Nominal Taxation Rates

What do folks think are reasonable % of GDP to spend on military? Canada
I
think is around 1-2% and we're the low end. I think anyone over 20% is
in
land of too-much-spending. So here are some guestimates for the future
powers (Feedback is good!). 

Pop is Laserlight's(?) est of 1988 Pop and GDP. (I'm going to use these
to
derive some 2180 figures later). The missing ones reflect me missing
bits of
this info if Chris provided it. 

%MS is the percentage of military spending I suggest each power expends. 

	   Pop	       GDP     %MS
NAC	   685.6     5,848.1   0.06	  * enough, but not too much
burden
on the taxpayer
ESU	 2,183.5     1,853.7   0.17	  * what must be spent to
protect
the state, etc.
FSE	   189.4     1,320.5   0.08	  * vaguely militant (vive la
France!)
NSL	   123.1     1,139.0   0.07		* I think the german GDP
will relatively improve
IF	   422.9       546.4   0.15	  * Amirs and Caliphs must look
potent
PAU	   469.2       241.1   0.12	  * Militant, but have more
internal
issues of concern
IC	   527.2       235.0   0.15	  
Japan	   124.0      2400.0   0.05	  * Militant enough to ensure
their
sovereignty
OU	    23.7       219.4   0.08	  * Make a little go a long way
FCT	    40.0       212.4   0.08	  * Independence requires
constant
vigilance
Israel	    4.4 	27     0.20	  * Gotta keep up with the
Smiths
RH ?					 0.11	    * A bleak, militant
tradition
Swiss			       0.07	  
UNSC			       0.10	  * Moderately high taxes, a
decent
GDP per capita
LLAR			       0.12	  * Still fighting for their
place
KNG			       0.08	  * A professional military,
well
respected internally

Though, just looking at the numbers, I have no idea how Israel is
supposed
to withstand any serious attack from the IF. Their only hope lies in the
vast divisions in the IF block. If the IF ever got its act together,
Israel
would be toast (again). 

Thoughts? Am I on the high side? Did I under or over rate anyone?
Smaller
nations in dire straights can get away with some higher tax rates. I
don't
think 20% is supportable over the long term (witness Russia) but neither
is
1 or 2% (witness Canada). If the Canadian experience is any indication,
maintaining your forces (if they are small) will cost you 1-2% of GDP.
That
means if that is your budget, capital expenditures to replace aging kit
are
hard to come by. I assume the ESU forces would cost the better part of
10-12% of GDP to maintain, leaving only about 5% for new expenditures.	

Thomas Barclay
Software UberMensch
xwave solutions
(613) 831-2018 x 3008