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knwilson,

Sure rich guy may buy the corvette to see it smashed - but does government expenditure on a program that is inefficient or serves only to perpetuate even bigger government constitute a wise use of funds to help humanity. This is getting really deep - and i do not mean in terms of intellectually

Of course if the government abuses the program then its bad ... wait, why do so many of you assume that I have no mental functioning abilities whatsoever? I'm not saying that the way the government handles things is good, I'm saying the way the government COULD handle things COULD be good.

I'm saying the way the government COULD handle things COULD be good.

Very true - if that something involves killing and destruction, the proper functions of a well-oiled State.

Those don't seem like useful talents in schools, for instance, unless you hate children.

probably because you are systematically neglecting the secondary and tertiary affects of property and investment - as indicated - the buying of a corvette is not just a vanity item - it employs quite a few folks along the way. The love affair with government expenditure for the common good, while effective at times (and if you want to research it Keynesian economics - origin circa great depression) - is not the end - it is at times a means but not an end. As far as your taxation issues, based on the very model i just pointed out which most liberal thinkers have embraced increasing taxation rate is not an effective mechanism to boost GDP. higher GDP means more jobs and more income. companies and suppliers help boost GDP - because the single greatest variable in GDP is consumption - relying heavily on consumer consumption. The accountability issue was raised because you seemingly were raising this notion that we have communal interest and the government helps provide for that, etc. Problem is that is simplistic and idealistic.

I'm not saying that the way the government handles things is good, I'm saying the way the government COULD handle things COULD be good.

I think this is where conservatives are fundamentally different than liberals.

I would much rather see problems solved by private enterprise and individuals. Obviously, some things like national security must be government operated, but education, health care, social security, and most social programs should be handled privately.

Even then, some things that need some government oversight, like roads and infrastructure; helping the indigent and disabled; and public schools should be done at a state or local level where they can be more responsive to the citizens.