Yes, well, per capita income from 1967 to 2006 grew (in 2006 dollars) grew 107%, so a 211% increase in per capita spending from 1958 to 2009 doesn't scare me all that much, especially when we consider the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 (adding Medicare & Medicaid, contributing to that whopping 1422% increase). Repealing Medicare would be pretty helpful for getting expenditures down, and would be a bold step in reforming healthcare in the US. But I don't think either party is going to step up to the plate on that one.

(What's protection? Are we paying the Mafia or something? "It'd be a shame if Nebraska fell off the shelf and broke, eh?")