An article on AlterNet claims the House defense budget, at $601 billion, "dwarfs spending during the Vietnam War." Even the source cited gives 1968 defense spending as $554 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars. 1968's defense budget was 8.7% of GDP. The current proposed defense budget is 3.6% of GDP. (GDP % calculated personally from available data.)
I agree defense spending is currently too high, given the size and nature of the threat now and for 20 years out. But fudging the adjectives and numbers the way AlterNet did is a sure way to lose the argument, you're preaching to the choir, which gets you no new support. And the opposition will quickly point out that your presentation of the data is not reliable, and put the same label on you.
http://www.alternet.org/world/endless-war-5-disturbing-things-americas-military-budget
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