Great Question, Great Answer

The question, from today's editorial in the LA Times:

The interesting question is why the U.S. economy, beneficiary since 9/11 of the largest military spending binge in history, now requires $150 billion more in the form of a short-term stimulus package. Why hasn't the $1 trillion in defense spending, in addition to the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, been sufficient to keep the economic boom going?
The answer, from Economist's View commenter, James Kroeger:

CONTRACTIONARY

I strongly recommend reading Kroeger's entire comment here.  One of this country's biggest exports has been money.