--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The left wants to protect social…" description: "\"The left wants to protect social programs, the right wants to protect defense and intelligence spending and all the rest. I say the defense and intelli..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/erik-prince-5732_budget_the-left-wants-to-protect-social-program_1312903.jpg" --- # The left wants to protect social programs, the right wants… ![“The left wants to protect social programs, the right wants to protect defense and intelligence spending and all the rest. I say the defense and intelligence world will be better off with a smaller budget. They would be less encumbered by bloat and able to maneuver the way they used to be able and…” quote by Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/erik-prince-5732_budget_the-left-wants-to-protect-social-program_1312903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/erik-prince-5732_budget_the-left-wants-to-protect-social-program_1312903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/723/erik-prince-5732_budget_the-left-wants-to-protect-social-program_1312903.jpg) > “The left wants to protect social programs, the right wants to protect defense and intelligence spending and all the rest. I say the defense and intelligence world will be better off with a smaller budget. They would be less encumbered by bloat and able to maneuver the way they used to be able and not trip over themselves.” [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Advocates for reduced defense and intelligence budgets to increase agility and cut waste. **In simple terms:** Smaller defense budgets could improve efficiency. Key Takeaway Push for leaner defense spending. Themes budget efficiency defense politics Mood critical analytical Type policy political When to use this quote - government budgeting - policy advocacy - military reform - budget hearings - public debate Key Concepts Fiscal responsibility bureaucratic reform strategic agility Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance efficiency with security? - What safeguards prevent underfunding? A Different Perspective May overlook security risks of underfunding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Budget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/budget/) [Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense/) [Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/) [Intelligence Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence-spending-4349210/) [Left Wants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/left-wants-382231/) [Protect Defense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect-defense-4349211/) [Rest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rest/) [Wants Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wants-protect-1498226/) [Will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > ["He who wants to protect everything, protects nothing," is one of the fundamental rules of defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-galland/he-who-wants-to-protect-everything-protects-nothing-is-one-of-the/) [Adolf Galland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-galland/) > [Everybody wants to protect their own tribe, whether they are right or wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-barkley/everybody-wants-to-protect-their-own-tribe-whether-they-are-right-or/) [Charles Barkley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-barkley/) > [When I travel with my kids abroad, I am not myself, but I'm more a father who wants to protect them. Sometimes, I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-r-rahman/when-i-travel-with-my-kids-abroad-i-am-not-myself-but-i-m-more-a/) [A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-r-rahman/) > [“Your dad does like you. In fact, he wants to protect you from me. He told me to not bother trying to get my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-cook/your-dad-does-like-you-in-fact-he-wants-to-protect-you-from-me-he/) [Eileen Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eileen-cook/) > [Every guy I met wants to protect me , but I couldn't find out from what ?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-guy-i-met-wants-to-protect-me-but-i-couldn-t-find-out-from-what/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Linden just wants to protect her, is what I want to say. She's all he has. I left him. I'm at arms reach, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-destefano/linden-just-wants-to-protect-her-is-what-i-want-to-say-she-s-all-he/) [Lauren DeStefano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-destefano/) > [Every man I meet wants to protect me. I can't figure out what from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-west/every-man-i-meet-wants-to-protect-me-i-can-t-figure-out-what-from/) [Mae West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-west/) > [“A lot of the left wants social change to look like the French Revolution or Che Guevara. Maybe changing the world is more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/a-lot-of-the-left-wants-social-change-to-look-like-the-french/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [Frankly, the left wants to be able to steal elections when necessary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fitton/frankly-the-left-wants-to-be-able-to-steal-elections-when-necessary/) [Tom Fitton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fitton/) > [The radical Left wants control over the lives of the American people and will sink to any depths to get it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/the-radical-left-wants-control-over-the-lives-of-the-american-people/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [“No one wants to be the one left behind. Everyone wants to be the first to go, so that you can avoid the sting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-flower/no-one-wants-to-be-the-one-left-behind-everyone-wants-to-be-the-first/) [Amanda Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-flower/) > [The Left wants to silence conservative Christians in the media and in the political square.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-lee-peterson/the-left-wants-to-silence-conservative-christians-in-the-media-and-in/) [Jesse Lee Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-lee-peterson/) > [“The left wants, needs, loves, and exacerbates violent conflict. The question is…why?...Conservatives generally want policy discussions because we disagree with liberals. Liberals need gutter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-golub/the-left-wants-needs-loves-and-exacerbates-violent-conflict-the/) [Eric Golub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-golub/) > [They want me to stop making my opinions and not saying a word; I know the Left wants that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-ford/they-want-me-to-stop-making-my-opinions-and-not-saying-a-word-i-know/) [Doug Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-ford/) > [The left wants to transform America away from founding ideals, and this is it. And they know it. And they're doing everything they, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-wants-to-transform-america-away-from-founding-ideals-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More by Erik Prince > [We now know that gun-free zones, though well intentioned, do not prevent attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/we-now-know-that-gun-free-zones-though-well-intentioned-do-not/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [The video game industry is constantly evolving. The sheer creativity matched with cutting-edge technologies gives me the comfort that innovation is alive and well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/the-video-game-industry-is-constantly-evolving-the-sheer-creativity/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Blackwater's work with the CIA began when we provided specialized instructors and facilities that the Agency lacked. In the years that followed, the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/blackwater-s-work-with-the-cia-began-when-we-provided-specialized/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Video games are an exciting medium. The creativity of design, the technology and the interaction represent the best of American innovation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/video-games-are-an-exciting-medium-the-creativity-of-design-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [There are some phone calls where it's not even worth wasting the electrons on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/there-are-some-phone-calls-where-it-s-not-even-worth-wasting-the/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Why should I pay for business? Fly coach, you arrive at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/why-should-i-pay-for-business-fly-coach-you-arrive-at-the-same-time/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [America is a great nation, but it cannot spend blood and treasure endlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/america-is-a-great-nation-but-it-cannot-spend-blood-and-treasure/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [You pretty much remove the entire political texture from Blackwater when you come to China. What they look at is our 100 per cent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/you-pretty-much-remove-the-entire-political-texture-from-blackwater/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Limited government is best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/limited-government-is-best/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [In Joe Yorio you find a guy who's smarter at business than I am. I'm an entrepreneur and idea guy; he's a professional businessman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/in-joe-yorio-you-find-a-guy-who-s-smarter-at-business-than-i-am-i-m/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [One of the real core competencies of Blackwater, or companies like Blackwater, is we can operate in difficult places without any outside support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/one-of-the-real-core-competencies-of-blackwater-or-companies-like/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm painted as this war profiteer by Congress. Meanwhile I'm paying for all sorts of intelligence activities to support American national security, out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-painted-as-this-war-profiteer-by-congress-meanwhile-i-m-paying/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [I'm an American working for America. Anything we do is to support U.S. policy. You know the definition of a mercenary is a professional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/i-m-an-american-working-for-america-anything-we-do-is-to-support-u-s/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [Our failed population-centric approach to Afghanistan has only led to missed opportunities, which is why Afghanistan depends on donors for 90% of government revenues.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/our-failed-population-centric-approach-to-afghanistan-has-only-led-to/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) > [President Trump should appoint a special presidential envoy and empower them to wage an unconventional war against Taliban and Daesh forces, to hold the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-prince/president-trump-should-appoint-a-special-presidential-envoy-and/) [Erik Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) [Explore all 100 Erik Prince quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-prince/) ## More Budget quotes > [I don't like just traveling in for a short time. I've done that before, because sometimes you work for magazines and they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sacco/i-don-t-like-just-traveling-in-for-a-short-time-i-ve-done-that-before/) [Joe Sacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sacco/) > [When we stop running up huge budget deficits and start acting responsibly in Washington, we will provide small-business owners with the certainty they need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-graves/when-we-stop-running-up-huge-budget-deficits-and-start-acting/) [Sam Graves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-graves/) > [Many developing nations have such severe debt and budget problems that the money given by developed nations will never be spent the way it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-grenell/many-developing-nations-have-such-severe-debt-and-budget-problems/) [Richard Grenell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-grenell/) > [We will make government more accountable. We will cut fraud, waste and abuse in our budget. But we will not do it by leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/we-will-make-government-more-accountable-we-will-cut-fraud-waste-and/) [John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/) > [Defense spending as a share of the economy dropped significantly during the early 1990s, and that was one of the things, along with other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-orszag/defense-spending-as-a-share-of-the-economy-dropped-significantly/) [Peter Orszag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-orszag/) > [I firmly believe that if members of Congress fail to perform their most basic duty in passing a budget, then they do not deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-schrader/i-firmly-believe-that-if-members-of-congress-fail-to-perform-their/) [Kurt Schrader](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-schrader/) > [They offered me $1,500 to do a week of 'The Golden Girls.' Can you imagine that? A big show with a big budget, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soupy-sales/they-offered-me-1-500-to-do-a-week-of-the-golden-girls-can-you/) [Soupy Sales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soupy-sales/) > [In my mid-20s I worked at the White House Office of Management and Budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/in-my-mid-20s-i-worked-at-the-white-house-office-of-management-and/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > ['The Librarians' is a show that really needs to have ten days, but we shoot it in seven, so the workload is really tremendous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-wyle/the-librarians-is-a-show-that-really-needs-to-have-ten-days-but-we/) [Noah Wyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-wyle/) > [In a budget this massive, there are certainly areas where I think we could do much better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-thornberry/in-a-budget-this-massive-there-are-certainly-areas-where-i-think-we/) [Mac Thornberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-thornberry/) > [As soon as you're at the higher levels of budgeting, you've got to get the film made, and the only way to support the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ridley-scott/as-soon-as-you-re-at-the-higher-levels-of-budgeting-you-ve-got-to-get/) [Ridley Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ridley-scott/) > [I don't want to revisit history or try to re-interpret it, you know, but starting from where we are now, given the experience that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/i-don-t-want-to-revisit-history-or-try-to-re-interpret-it-you-know/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [If we're going to have an unconventional budget, we probably need an unconventional process to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-foxx/if-we-re-going-to-have-an-unconventional-budget-we-probably-need-an/) [Anthony Foxx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-foxx/) > [The American people, in their own families, they understand that you have to do that. You have to make the tough decisions. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/the-american-people-in-their-own-families-they-understand-that-you/) [Cathy McMorris Rodgers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-mcmorris-rodgers/) > [There is no excuse for waste, fraud, and abuse in the Defense Department budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bolton/there-is-no-excuse-for-waste-fraud-and-abuse-in-the-defense/) [John Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bolton/) [Browse all 855 Budget quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/budget/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The left wants to protect social programs, the right wants to protect defense and intelligence spending and all the rest. I say the defense and intelligence world will be better off with a smaller budget. 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