How to Cut the Military Budget

Are you ACTUALLY serious about reducing the deficit?
Really?
For real and for true?

I'll make you a deal:
I'll agree to you cutting $X from defense spending. Whatever you want.
You'll agree to me cutting $3X from entitlement spending. Whatever I want.

Who's in?

Just wondering where the 3x number comes from. How did you come to that number? Just wondering.
There is 3 times the entitlement spending than there is Defense spending.

For every $! of defense, $3 of entitlement needs to be cut.
 
Below is what I posted in another thread on cutting the budget.
http://www.usmessageboard.com/econo...ollars-are-spent-where-do-you-say-to-cut.html

I agree Defense Spending MUST be cut, however, Dems can't win that argument without cutting other places. The easiest places to cut are (4) Safety Net, (6) Federal Pensions which equates to 21% of the budget (same as Healthcare, Social Security and Defense). Harder places to cut are Healthcare and Social Security. HOWEVER, if the Democrats dream of getting cross the isle compromises on significant Defense cuts then they will have to cut the above four mentioned

NOTE: It is very disturbing to me that a combined 5% of the Federal budget goes to Education 3% and Medical and Scientific Research 2%! These are the only areas that MUST be increased! It is no wonder our schools are falling so far behind when when spend so little on it!


(1) Medicare ($468K), Medicaid and Chips: 21% = $753 Bil:
First things first, STOP giving free healthcare to Illegals. When Jose, Juan and Joe go to the hospital and only Joe has insurance and is going to pay, but Jose and Juan are illegals not paying dick! The cost gets pushed to Joe. Meaning healthcare costs go up simply because only one person can pay! Its robbery!
Second is to move raise the ages for Medicare. Sorry, but we live longer and that needs to be considered. 65 half benefits if taken, 68 2/3 benefits and 70 ful benefits. Raising the rates will save a ton of money.
Medicaid. First things first, NO MEDICAID FOR ILLEGALS!!! Sorry CA but FUCK YOU! Illegal shouldn't get medicaid PERIOD! Like Obamacare or not, but the pre-existing condition eliminator will allow many who couldn't get health insurance the ability to get health insurance. It's one positive of the bill! Believe it or not this eliminates a problem Majority of the people on Chips and Medicaid are their because they can't get on private insurance!
Third, find a way to get off the employer based system. This puts our corporations at a huge disadvantage and the Fed loses money due to tax exemption (note: The tax exemption shouldn't go away or be reduced unless we find a way to get off the employer based system.

(2) Social Security 20% = $708 bil[/B]:
Look, when the age was set at 65 people lived into the 70s and some into the 80s! That is not the case now. Most live to the 70s, many to the 80s and 90s! We need to recognize these realities. Do the sliding scale again. 65 is earlier retirement 50% benefits. 68 = 2/3. and 70 is the new 65 to get to 100% benefits. Allow the Social Security reserves to be invested! Have some of the best economic minds do the investing, like Warren Buffet!

(3) Defense 20% = $715 B (including $172 B for the 2 wars):
You would be dishonest to say that SS and Medicaid/care must be cut, but not defense. Look, defense needs to be cut. Leaving Iraq will save cash, but Afghanistan looks like years away from ending. Cut defense! Close some bases. Sorry, but it needs to be done! I hate saying it, but I know the danger of Islamic terror, but defense must be cut.

(4) Safety Net 14% = $482 B:

The explanation of what it is below! Basically it's entitlement spending!
First things first, NO FOOD STAMPS, WELFARE or ENTITLEMENTS for Illegals.
Second, cut them drastically and have at least welfare be temporary. Don't let people fall into a cycle of relying on it.
Third, means test should apply!
Fourth, don't penalize someone from getting married or having a job on welfare. People don't do either because they lose the benefits.
Fifth, only allow the "essential" food identies for food stamps. Make it for basic necessities only. It should be a life saver not a life enhancer!
Sixth, REQUIRE month druge test for welfare! Sorry, but far too many drug addicts are on welfare!

Policy Basics: Where Do Our Federal Tax Dollars Go? — Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
will support programs that provide aid (other than health insurance or Social Security benefits) to individuals and families facing hardship.

These programs include: the refundable portion of the earned-income and child tax credits, which assist low- and moderate-income working families through the tax code; programs that provide cash payments to eligible individuals or households, including Supplemental Security Income for the elderly or disabled poor and unemployment insurance; various forms of in-kind assistance for low-income families and individuals, including food stamps, school meals, low-income housing assistance, child-care assistance, and assistance in meeting home energy bills; and various other programs such as those that aid abused and neglected children.

(5) Interest on Debt 8% = $209 B:
This is the equivalent of a reckless person making $100K a year and have $80K in credit card debt! We need to pay this quick. Our interest payment to China should not be higher than 2% of the budget!

(6) Benefits for Federal Retirees (PENSION PLANS) 7%:
This is HIGHWAY FUCKING ROBBERY! Not a damn cent of tax payor money should go to pay pension plans. The private sector had to go from pension plans to individual retirement plans (like 401K), so why the hell shouldn't the GOVERNMENT! This should be an instance 7% savings!

(7) Transportation and Infrastructure 3%:
This is an are where there is a lot of waste and we constantly fix highways that don't need fixing. I know they want to provide jobs, but come on waste is waste!

(8) Education 3%:
This is an area we need to increase, but not on teacher pension plans!

(9) Scientific & Medical Research 2%:
This is actually an area we should increase! Starting with Stem Cell research!

(10) Non-security Interest International 1%:
So when people scream about those dirty Jews getting our tax dollar realize it a time portion of the debt. Ditto for Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen, African nationsl fighting AIDS etc. It's a talking point!

(13) All other Debt 4%:
This includes pork barrel spending. So truthfully that is a talking point. Yes it can be a starting point, but the real cutting must come from the Top 68% (SS, Medicare/caid, Defense and Pension Plans)


Thank you very much for this post. Did you write this originally? Well said and thought out.
 
Better yet, lets just disband the Military. The boy scouts can take care of us, they train with guns and bow and arrow anyways.

Given that no foreign country has managed to invade the US mainland in almost 200 years...
... a fact made possible -only- by the creation and maintenance of an effective military...

The point is that we are kidding ourselves if we believe we need a military larger than the next 20 countries combined to protect ourselves from invasion.

We have two friendly neighbors and two huge oceans that have kept us free from invasion for centuries.

The reason we maintain the military we do is to project power and maintain stability abroad....not to protect our shores from invasion
 
The point is that we are kidding ourselves if we believe we need a military larger than the next 20 countries combined to protect ourselves from invasion.
False premise, that for the nation to be secure it only need be safe from foreign invasion.

We have two friendly neighbors and two huge oceans that have kept us free from invasion for centuries.
The oceans have only "kept us safe" from invasion because of the US Navy.
However, keeping the oceans themselves safe is a vital national interest, and so requires a navy that can do so. Thus, the navy that we have.

The reason we maintain the military we do is to project power and maintain stability abroad....
Which is an inherent part of maintaining our national security.
 
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Given that no foreign country has managed to invade the US mainland in almost 200 years...
... a fact made possible -only- by the creation and maintenance of an effective military...

The point is that we are kidding ourselves if we believe we need a military larger than the next 20 countries combined to protect ourselves from invasion.

We have two friendly neighbors and two huge oceans that have kept us free from invasion for centuries.

The reason we maintain the military we do is to project power and maintain stability abroad....not to protect our shores from invasion

Saying to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan is one thing, but you would really be ok with the US disbanding the Military altogether?
 
... a fact made possible -only- by the creation and maintenance of an effective military...

The point is that we are kidding ourselves if we believe we need a military larger than the next 20 countries combined to protect ourselves from invasion.

We have two friendly neighbors and two huge oceans that have kept us free from invasion for centuries.

The reason we maintain the military we do is to project power and maintain stability abroad....not to protect our shores from invasion

Saying to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan is one thing, but you would really be ok with the US disbanding the Military altogether?

You are the one who talked me into it

i only wanted to get the fuck out of Afghanistan and Iraq
 
The point is that we are kidding ourselves if we believe we need a military larger than the next 20 countries combined to protect ourselves from invasion.

We have two friendly neighbors and two huge oceans that have kept us free from invasion for centuries.

The reason we maintain the military we do is to project power and maintain stability abroad....not to protect our shores from invasion

Saying to get out of Iraq and Afghanistan is one thing, but you would really be ok with the US disbanding the Military altogether?

You are the one who talked me into it

i only wanted to get the fuck out of Afghanistan and Iraq

Oh, I was being sarcastic.:eek:
 
The point is that we are kidding ourselves if we believe we need a military larger than the next 20 countries combined to protect ourselves from invasion.
False premise, that for the nation to be secure it only need be safe from foreign invasion.

We have two friendly neighbors and two huge oceans that have kept us free from invasion for centuries.
The oceans have only "kept us safe" from invasion because of the US Navy.
However, keeping the oceans themselves safe is a vital national interest, and so requires a navy that can do so. Thus, the navy that we have.

The reason we maintain the military we do is to project power and maintain stability abroad....
Which is an inherent part of maintaining our national seciruty.

Then it all comes down to a question of scale

Do we need more military than the next 20 countries combined in order to protect ourselves from a Naval invasion that no other country has the Navy to execute?
 
Given that no foreign country has managed to invade the US mainland in almost 200 years...
... a fact made possible -only- by the creation and maintenance of an effective military...

The point is that we are kidding ourselves if we believe we need a military larger than the next 20 countries combined to protect ourselves from invasion.

We have two friendly neighbors and two huge oceans that have kept us free from invasion for centuries.

The reason we maintain the military we do is to project power and maintain stability abroad....not to protect our shores from invasion
This is how freedoms are lost.



:cuckoo::cuckoo:
 
You could get a good way there by closing the scores of overseas bases where the war has been over for decades.

Now, lets get to applying the same machete to do-gooder domestic social welfare programs.

Yeah, he mentioned that in his article. Why do we need 150,000 troops throughout Europe?

WE don't. The European economy depends on them now though and somehow we get stuck paying the bill for it. Just my humble opinion, of course.

vut?

the european economy depends on the US military bases?

some local economy did, or does.

did not stop the US military from leaving würzburg, e.g.

so i summarily reject your humble opinion and present my own.

they need the european bases as stepping stones. logistics. harbors in the mediterranean.
medicine. big mil hospital in landstuhl, were most casualties are treated.

all that shit.

european economy, lol
 
... a fact made possible -only- by the creation and maintenance of an effective military...

The point is that we are kidding ourselves if we believe we need a military larger than the next 20 countries combined to protect ourselves from invasion.

We have two friendly neighbors and two huge oceans that have kept us free from invasion for centuries.

The reason we maintain the military we do is to project power and maintain stability abroad....not to protect our shores from invasion
This is how freedoms are lost.



:cuckoo::cuckoo:

How so?

Who is cabable of invading us and taking away our freedom?
 
Do we need more military than the next 20 countries combined in order to protect ourselves from a Naval invasion that no other country has the Navy to execute?
Again - false premise, that all that is necessary to ensure the security of the US is to protect it from an invasion.

Homework assignment:
Look up SLOC and postulate how it might apply to the world economy in general and the US economy in specific.
 
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A massively overblown defense budget sure as hell didn't protect us from the attacks of 9/11 now did it?

So the conclusions that can drawn from that attack are:

a. Somebody doesn't know what the fuck they're doing

or

b. We taxpayers are getting screwed.
 
The point is that we are kidding ourselves if we believe we need a military larger than the next 20 countries combined to protect ourselves from invasion.

We have two friendly neighbors and two huge oceans that have kept us free from invasion for centuries.

The reason we maintain the military we do is to project power and maintain stability abroad....not to protect our shores from invasion
This is how freedoms are lost.



:cuckoo::cuckoo:

How so?

Who is cabable of invading us and taking away our freedom?

hidden mooslims, creeping sharia
 
The point is that we are kidding ourselves if we believe we need a military larger than the next 20 countries combined to protect ourselves from invasion.

We have two friendly neighbors and two huge oceans that have kept us free from invasion for centuries.

The reason we maintain the military we do is to project power and maintain stability abroad....not to protect our shores from invasion
This is how freedoms are lost.



:cuckoo::cuckoo:

How so?

Who is cabable of invading us and taking away our freedom?

Mexico.
 
Military spending is just a subsidy to those that profiteer.


Comrade, yea because using the military to defeat the USSR was a bad thing. Protecting this country and well the world is a bad thing. Companies make profits that is what they do! If they didn't make profits then they wouldn't be in business and wouldn't be producing ANYTHING! If there weren't companies producing products for our military, then we wouldn't have a military, nor would we have innovative military equipment!
 
Military spending is just a subsidy to those that profiteer.


Comrade, yea because using the military to defeat the USSR was a bad thing. Protecting this country and well the world is a bad thing. Companies make profits that is what they do! If they didn't make profits then they wouldn't be in business and wouldn't be producing ANYTHING! If there weren't companies producing products for our military, then we wouldn't have a military, nor would we have innovative military equipment!
Never mind that every dollar spent on defense means -someone- has a job and is therefore a contributor to society.
Can't say -that- about entitlements.
 
Military spending is just a subsidy to those that profiteer.


Comrade, yea because using the military to defeat the USSR was a bad thing. Protecting this country and well the world is a bad thing. Companies make profits that is what they do! If they didn't make profits then they wouldn't be in business and wouldn't be producing ANYTHING! If there weren't companies producing products for our military, then we wouldn't have a military, nor would we have innovative military equipment!
Never mind that every dollar spent on defense means -someone- has a job and is therefore a contributor to society.
Can't say -that- about entitlements.


Ah, so it's nothing more than a massive government funded jobs program.

How Socialistic.
 

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