J Robert Kinnett,
Your figures about the NEA’s budget or resources are nottruthful. It didn’t divert all it’s budget nor is it’s budget anywhere near that large. But your general point is valid.
As far as the point of the article goes, isn’t one of the fundamental functions of the state to offer protection and a monopoly on violence? That doesn’t preclude self defense, of course. Todays cons love to ululate about low taxes and small government while demanding expensive wars, miitary and law enforcement adn givng the state a carte blanche to achieve that. War is the greatest promoter of more state power and direction.