Are Americans willing to pay the cost of war?

[Missourian]

If the wars are breaking us, why is Obama spending money like it grows on trees?

Almost a trillion dollars on the non-stimulating stimulus pork.

Two trillion on no reform health care takeover.

Cash for clunkers...$24,000 per car.

$300 million dollar bribe for Louisiana to buy their Senators vote.

$30 million for Pelosi's pet mouse project.

Come clean and tell us the truth...you and the rest of the lib's are trying to prep us for that tax hike that Obama promised he wouldn't give us and twisting the truth into a pretzel in a vain attempt to blame Bush.

It ain't gonna work, so save your contortions for another day.

Just be honest and say "Obama lied (again) and he's going to raise your taxes so he can redistribute it".

That was the socialist plan all along.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

Republicans do not "like" "starting wars."

Actually, many of them do. Most republicans are corporatists and make lots and LOTS of money off the MIC. War is good business, remeber? Also, almost every aspect of the Iraq war was contracted out. Who do you think it was contracted out to? It wasn't Iraqi firms... Hell, none of the contractors would even hire Iraqi people.

 

[Liability]

Republicans do not "like" "starting wars."

Actually, many of them do. Most republicans are corporatists and make lots and LOTS of money off the MIC. War is good business, remeber? Also, almost every aspect of the Iraq war was contracted out. Who do you think it was contracted out to? It wasn't Iraqi firms... Hell, none of the contractors would even hire Iraqi people.

You remain a font of vapid.

War is sometimes "good business" in the short term for SOME manufacturers.

Overall, war tends to be a serious economic dislocation.

And that wasn't the original contention, anyway.

So, stop spinning. When you spin like a top, as you do, you could get very dizzy and then proceed to puke; and nobody wants to have to put up with vomit from Mr. Peepee.

 

[Mr. Peepers]

Oh yeah? I'm spinning? Why do you really think Shrub invaded Iraq? Hint... it had nothing to do with WMD's of any sort and everything to do with war profiteering. Prove me wrong. I dare you.

 

[Claudette]

Well Bf, guess it will be the first time in the history of this country that a war is payed for as we go. I think its just a ploy to try to get those who support the war, to not support the war. After all, folks pay attention when you hit em in the pocketbook. Good way to sway their likes and dislikes. Either way I don't think it will happen.

 

[Bfgrn]

Well Bf, guess it will be the first time in the history of this country that a war is payed for as we go. I think its just a ploy to try to get those who support the war, to not support the war. After all, folks pay attention when you hit em in the pocketbook. Good way to sway their likes and dislikes. Either way I don't think it will happen.

If you REALLY want to get their attention...draft their kids...

 

[Ringel05]

An emotional appeal went out to citizens by means of advertising. Even though the bonds offered a rate of return below the market value, it represented a moral and financial stake in the war effort. The advertisements started with radio and newspapers, then later added magazines to reach the masses. The bond campaign was unique in that both the government, as well as private companies, created the advertisements.

Those who contributed advertising space felt they were doing even more for the war effort; then there were organizations that made up their own war bond advertisements to reflect their patriotism. The government recruited New York’s best advertising agencies, famous entertainers, and even used familiar comic strip characters to further their appeal to America. In their advertisements, the New York Stock Exchange urged purchasers not to cash in their bonds. More than a quarter of a billion dollars worth of advertising was donated during the first three years of the National Defense Savings Program. Massive advertising campagins used any means of media possible, and the campaign was a huge success. Word spread quickly; polls indicated after only one month that 90 percent of those responding were aware of war bonds. Bonds became the ideal channel for those on the home front to contribute to the national defense.

Bond rallies were held throughout the country with famous celebrities, usually Hollywood film stars, to enhance the advertising's effectiveness. Free movie days were held in theaters nationwide with a bond purchase as the admission. Such popular Hollywood stars as Greer Garson, Bette Davis and Rita Hayworth completed seven tours in more than 300 cities and towns to promote war bonds. The "Stars Over America" bond blitz, in which 337 stars took part, surpassed its quota and netted $838,540,000 worth of bonds.

U.S. War Bonds


I see nothing wrong with this nation supporting our efforts overseas in both moral and FINANCIAL terms and the reason why I put the war bonds example up there, is for a while now, I've thought that would be a good way to offset some of the expense of those efforts. One more thing of note here, and this applies to any Administration not just this one, rather than just talk of paying for the war, perhaps if bonds were sold and an appeal was made to the public for such efforts for troops deployed overseas then they might find it not as hard as they may think, one more thing too, if someone has an issue with the troops deployed overseas for whatever the reason, then by selling bonds they do not have to buy them.

To busy arguing which party is better, sheer stupidity. Navy posted an excellent example of a tried and true method to raise money to support the wars and it was completely ignored. Everyone is too busy playing "We're better than you are, nanny, nanny, boo, boo" bull shit and "It's your fault! No it's not it's your fault" crap. Real fucking adult. Of course that was exactly what Bfgrn had in mind, the bull shit blame game.

 

[SFC Ollie]

Oh yeah? I'm spinning? Why do you really think Shrub invaded Iraq? Hint... it had nothing to do with WMD's of any sort and everything to do with war profiteering. Prove me wrong. I dare you.

You made a stupid accusation, you prove that it's right. Show me the money that Bush made on Iraq.

 

[Charles Stucker]

Oddly enough,in the entire budget national defense is the ONLY item where Congress is on solid Constitutional grounds.

Actually, the Post Office, is also specifically authorized in the constitution.

 

[bodecea]

The Cost Of War
Bruce Bartlett, 11.26.09, 12:01 AM EST

Are Americans willing to pay it?

In recent years, Republicans have been characterized by two principal positions: They like starting wars and don't like paying for them. George W. Bush initiated two major wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but adamantly refused to pay for either of them by cutting non-military spending or raising taxes. Indeed, at his behest, Congress actually cut taxes and established a massive new entitlement program, Medicare Part D.

Bush's actions were unprecedented. During every previous major war in American history, presidents demanded sacrifices from rich and poor alike. As Robert Hormats explains in his 2007 book, The Price of Liberty: Paying for America's Wars, "During most of America's wars, parochial desires--such as tax breaks for favored groups or generous spending for influential constituencies--have been sacrificed to the greater good. The president and both parties in Congress have come together … to cut nonessential spending and increase taxes."

More... Forbes.com - Bruce Bartlett

Bruce Bartlett (b. October 11, 1951, in Ann Arbor, Michigan) is a historian who turned to writing about supply-side economics. He was a domestic policy adviser to President Ronald Reagan and was a treasury official under President George H.W. Bush.

These things would end our ME forays quickly because they require all Americans to sacrifice for the common good:

1. a draft

2. a declaration of war

3. manditory rationing of war necessities

4. all out war against our enemies

5. suspension of freedom of speech/press for the war effort



....all of these happened in WWII, btw.