Military Waste Should Be Priority 1

[GoneBezerk]

The DoD budget lost close to $500B from the budget last year and now there's another $500B in mandatory cuts if a deal isn't struck between the POTUS and GOP.

The DoD has been getting rid of "waste" like firing contractors and Govt employees as well as programs. Instead of cutting the grass around base each week, it might get cut now once every 2-3 weeks. That is an operating cost that has been slashed across numerous bases.

The Commissary has increased the surchage (a TAX) on food pretty much each year the past couple years despite the claim there is no TAX on base for food.

Flying units are flying less training missions, many weapons systems currently in R&D are being scrubbed, etc.

Seeing shithead civilians constantly talk about the DoD needing to make cuts while they defend more spending and waste in the welfare programs....is beyond fucking ludicrous. Scumbag civilians that constantly attack the DoD are always the first ones that hide behind the DoD when there is an attack.

 

[Hawkeye]

I'm the son of retired military and was hand picked to be in the Navy's Aegis program trained by the engineers at RCA. I served on the Yorktown and lead technician for most of 4-1/2 years including three med cruises.

I've seen the waste and ineptitude first hand and I'm glad they're tightening up, but there's a lot more that needs looked at. Hell, our economy would be fine if we we're lied into a stupid war while we cut taxes at the same time by a bunch of shitheads who came to age in Vietnam, but didn't have the guts to serve. Then they rush guys into a war unprepared and for no good reason without proper gear. They gave no-bid contracts while sending reservists on multiple tours.

Everything has to be looked at including military, entitlements, and especially graft and tax evasion.

 

[DiamondDave]

I'm the son of retired military and was hand picked to be in the Navy's Aegis program trained by the engineers at RCA. I served on the Yorktown and lead technician for most of 4-1/2 years including three med cruises.

I've seen the waste and ineptitude first hand and I'm glad they're tightening up, but there's a lot more that needs looked at. Hell, our economy would be fine if we we're lied into a stupid war while we cut taxes at the same time by a bunch of shitheads who came to age in Vietnam, but didn't have the guts to serve. Then they rush guys into a war unprepared and for no good reason without proper gear. They gave no-bid contracts while sending reservists on multiple tours.

Everything has to be looked at including military, entitlements, and especially graft and tax evasion.

Wondered how long until the "Boooooossssshhhh Lied" part would come in...

 

[Hawkeye]

The DoD budget lost close to $500B from the budget last year and now there's another $500B in mandatory cuts if a deal isn't struck between the POTUS and GOP.

The DoD has been getting rid of "waste" like firing contractors and Govt employees as well as programs. Instead of cutting the grass around base each week, it might get cut now once every 2-3 weeks. That is an operating cost that has been slashed across numerous bases.

The Commissary has increased the surchage (a TAX) on food pretty much each year the past couple years despite the claim there is no TAX on base for food.

Flying units are flying less training missions, many weapons systems currently in R&D are being scrubbed, etc.

Seeing shithead civilians constantly talk about the DoD needing to make cuts while they defend more spending and waste in the welfare programs....is beyond fucking ludicrous. Scumbag civilians that constantly attack the DoD are always the first ones that hide behind the DoD when there is an attack.

I'm the son of retired military and was hand picked to be in the Navy's Aegis program trained by the engineers at RCA. I served on the Yorktown and lead technician for most of 4-1/2 years including three med cruises.

I've seen the waste and ineptitude first hand and I'm glad they're tightening up, but there's a lot more that needs looked at. Hell, our economy would be fine if we we're lied into a stupid war while we cut taxes at the same time by a bunch of shitheads who came to age in Vietnam, but didn't have the guts to serve. Then they rush guys into a war unprepared and for no good reason without proper gear. They gave no-bid contracts while sending reservists on multiple tours.

Everything has to be looked at including military, entitlements, and especially graft and tax evasion.

Wondered how long until the "Boooooossssshhhh Lied" part would come in...

Nah, boy bush was just the idiot puppet in front of the cameras

 

[GoneBezerk]

Your military career is a joke compared to mine....+40 years with my dad and I.

You talk a lot of shit, that's it.

Obamination will cut the DoD over and over and over before he touches his welfare handouts to you lemmings.

I'm the son of retired military and was hand picked to be in the Navy's Aegis program trained by the engineers at RCA. I served on the Yorktown and lead technician for most of 4-1/2 years including three med cruises.

I've seen the waste and ineptitude first hand and I'm glad they're tightening up, but there's a lot more that needs looked at. Hell, our economy would be fine if we we're lied into a stupid war while we cut taxes at the same time by a bunch of shitheads who came to age in Vietnam, but didn't have the guts to serve. Then they rush guys into a war unprepared and for no good reason without proper gear. They gave no-bid contracts while sending reservists on multiple tours.

Everything has to be looked at including military, entitlements, and especially graft and tax evasion.

 

[Hawkeye]

Your military career is a joke compared to mine....+40 years with my dad and I.

You talk a lot of shit, that's it.

Obamination will cut the DoD over and over and over before he touches his welfare handouts to you lemmings.

I'm the son of retired military and was hand picked to be in the Navy's Aegis program trained by the engineers at RCA. I served on the Yorktown and lead technician for most of 4-1/2 years including three med cruises.

I've seen the waste and ineptitude first hand and I'm glad they're tightening up, but there's a lot more that needs looked at. Hell, our economy would be fine if we we're lied into a stupid war while we cut taxes at the same time by a bunch of shitheads who came to age in Vietnam, but didn't have the guts to serve. Then they rush guys into a war unprepared and for no good reason without proper gear. They gave no-bid contracts while sending reservists on multiple tours.

Everything has to be looked at including military, entitlements, and especially graft and tax evasion.

I just joined to serve because I feel it's my duty as an American...I had enough courage and confidence to know I could make it on the outside. I could have worked for NavSea, but felt like it's kind of like an entitlement and decided to work my way up in the outside world. Good for those of you not wired that way, but it's just not mine. I got pulled into the military work for a bit but try stay away from it as much as possible because it's run so inefficiently and getting results is so frustrating.

 

[Wry Catcher]

All waste should be targeted.... BUT... The military is something constitutionally charged for the federal government to do... Entitlements should be heavily targeted for elimination BEYOND waste

I defer to you expertise on our Constitution, Dave, so please explain to me what the founders/signers meant by this phrase (Section 8, clause 1) "...pay the Debts of the and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States"?

 

[GoneBezerk]

Ahhh, so you believe anyone that goes 20 years in the military only did it because they couldn't get a "real job?" Couldn't hack it on the outside?

Doing 20 years is actually a bad thing for many military Vets because a lot of companies don't want to hire a 40 something military guy that needs a decent paycheck compared to some snotnosed 20 year old that will work for less.

Also, many of the hiring managers are afraid of people like me with multiple college degrees and a resume that makes them look like a joke....because we will be running the company in short time, not them.

Sure you were one of those that got in and out for the GI Bill benefits then act like you ran and know the military inside out. Don't go bragging around the VA organizations about your short tour....

Your military career is a joke compared to mine....+40 years with my dad and I.

You talk a lot of shit, that's it.

Obamination will cut the DoD over and over and over before he touches his welfare handouts to you lemmings.

I'm the son of retired military and was hand picked to be in the Navy's Aegis program trained by the engineers at RCA. I served on the Yorktown and lead technician for most of 4-1/2 years including three med cruises.

I've seen the waste and ineptitude first hand and I'm glad they're tightening up, but there's a lot more that needs looked at. Hell, our economy would be fine if we we're lied into a stupid war while we cut taxes at the same time by a bunch of shitheads who came to age in Vietnam, but didn't have the guts to serve. Then they rush guys into a war unprepared and for no good reason without proper gear. They gave no-bid contracts while sending reservists on multiple tours.

Everything has to be looked at including military, entitlements, and especially graft and tax evasion.

I just joined to serve because I feel it's my duty as an American...I had enough courage and confidence to know I could make it on the outside. I could have worked for NavSea, but felt like it's kind of like an entitlement and decided to work my way up in the outside world. Good for those of you not wired that way, but it's just not mine. I got pulled into the military work for a bit but try stay away from it as much as possible because it's run so inefficiently and getting results is so frustrating.

 

[koshergrl]

military waste:

I think you should investigate it very closely.

 

[Darkwind]

All waste should be targeted.... BUT... The military is something constitutionally charged for the federal government to do... Entitlements should be heavily targeted for elimination BEYOND waste

Not social security...I consider it and insurance program I've paid into substantially for 40 years. Streamline the redtape, sure...change my policy, no.

Then why do you allow or support politicians who spend that money in the general fund instead of locking away the money you pay into it?

In addition, I suppose that if you live beyond the money you contributed to Social Security, you will accept that you will no longer get any money from that program? After all, its your money, but not a dime beyond that, right?

As for waste in the Military......Why not go through the Federal government and eliminate the hundreds of departments and programs that duplicate efforts and simply exist to spend money to justify the budget (if we had one)?

 

[asaratis]

All waste should be targeted.... BUT... The military is something constitutionally charged for the federal government to do... Entitlements should be heavily targeted for elimination BEYOND waste

The government is NOT obligated to support redundancy, waste or fraud within the military/civilian machine. There are huge savings that could be accomplished without jeopardizing or strength and readiness.

I am not saying that you disagree with that. It's just that some cuts in military spending would NOT involve the removal of equipments from our troops OR the reduction in the number of troops deployed. The spending cuts would come from cutting out corruption, over-priced supplies, redundant services and the like.

 

[DiamondDave]

All waste should be targeted.... BUT... The military is something constitutionally charged for the federal government to do... Entitlements should be heavily targeted for elimination BEYOND waste

The government is NOT obligated to support redundancy, waste or fraud within the military/civilian machine. There are huge savings that could be accomplished without jeopardizing or strength and readiness.

I am not saying that you disagree with that. It's just that some cuts in military spending would NOT involve the removal of equipments from our troops OR the reduction in the number of troops deployed. The spending cuts would come from cutting out corruption, over-priced supplies, redundant services and the like.

There are indeed many areas within defense where spending can be cut, redundancy eliminated, and waste exposed...

BUT... other areas such as entitlements should be cut BEYOND waste... as in reduction or elimination of the programs and agencies

 

[asaratis]

All waste should be targeted.... BUT... The military is something constitutionally charged for the federal government to do... Entitlements should be heavily targeted for elimination BEYOND waste

I defer to you expertise on our Constitution, Dave, so please explain to me what the founders/signers meant by this phrase (Section 8, clause 1) "...pay the Debts of the and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States"?

Here we go again, trying to get a handle on our founding father's use of the word "welfare". They did not intend the same meaning as we attach to "welfare" these days. Though you should be able to search for yourself and learn this, I will get back to you later with explanations by learned scholars.

 

[Billo_Really]

All waste should be targeted.... BUT... The military is something constitutionally charged for the federal government to do... Entitlements should be heavily targeted for elimination BEYOND waste

I don't think the Constitution intended to have the military construct over 800 bases around the world.

How does our military protect this country, when
they're not physically in the country they're defending?

 

[longknife]

What amazes me is how you libs can be so two-faced.

You want Big Government to care for you from cradle to grave - but are blind to the fact that only dictatorial government can do so and such governments require strong military arms to back their threats.

You fail to even consider the billions upon billions of dollars in waste that go on across the board in government programs.

 

[asaratis]

All waste should be targeted.... BUT... The military is something constitutionally charged for the federal government to do... Entitlements should be heavily targeted for elimination BEYOND waste

I defer to you expertise on our Constitution, Dave, so please explain to me what the founders/signers meant by this phrase (Section 8, clause 1) "...pay the Debts of the and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States"?

Here we go again, trying to get a handle on our founding father's use of the word "welfare". They did not intend the same meaning as we attach to "welfare" these days. Though you should be able to search for yourself and learn this, I will get back to you later with explanations by learned scholars.

Promise me you will read the ENTIRE linked article. The definition of general welfare of the United States was changed in the 1930s to suit the intentions of the progressives to give entitlements to those "less fortunate". It is far from the original definition of the day.

The Proof

The definition of General Welfare from just 40 years after the ratification of the Constitution:

Exemption from any unusual evil or calamity; the enjoyment of peace and prosperity, or the ordinary blessings of society and civil government (Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828).

That's just about as clear and succinct as it can be put. What is in bold above is what the founding fathers meant when they inserted the phrase General Welfare in the Constitution. They did NOT mean the taking of wealth from one group and the passing of it to others less fortunate.

 

[Billo_Really]

What amazes me is how you libs can be so two-faced.

You want Big Government to care for you from cradle to grave - but are blind to the fact that only dictatorial government can do so and such governments require strong military arms to back their threats.

You fail to even consider the billions upon billions of dollars in waste that go on across the board in government programs.

We can cut the defense budget in half and still have a strong military.

 

[Mr. Shaman]

I think before we start tearing into social security, medicare, and medicaid, we need to look at the waste in military spending. Until I had this job, I didn't realize there are ten civilians and contract employees behind every person in uniform and only about four of them do any actual work. The software I saw was cumbersome and it took more people to maintain it than any value garnered. Not only that, it was poorly implemented and updates and tweeks were avoided because it cost a million dollars for any small change due to the hoops contractors have to jump through due to military specs. I asked how are we supposed to quickly manufacture weapons when the system is so convoluted to be answered, "oh, we'd just have to drop the system and do it manually". How stupid is that? The idea is to be able to replenish faster than the adversary. We need to clean house asap!

January 30, 2013

U.S. Economy Shrinks; Plunge In Defense Spending​

"The economy in the U.S. unexpectedly shrank in the fourth quarter, restrained by the biggest plunge in defense spending in four decades and dwindling inventory growth as household purchases picked up."

*

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg-jvHynP9Y]Eisenhower's "Military-Industrial Complex" Speech Origins and Significance - YouTube[/ame]

*​

Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961​

"Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any of my predecessors in peacetime, or indeed by the fighting men of World War II or Korea.

Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations.

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."

*

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbDfYzq_HaQ]Truth about Halliburton and Dick Cheney - YouTube[/ame]​

 

[DiamondDave]

I think before we start tearing into social security, medicare, and medicaid, we need to look at the waste in military spending. Until I had this job, I didn't realize there are ten civilians and contract employees behind every person in uniform and only about four of them do any actual work. The software I saw was cumbersome and it took more people to maintain it than any value garnered. Not only that, it was poorly implemented and updates and tweeks were avoided because it cost a million dollars for any small change due to the hoops contractors have to jump through due to military specs. I asked how are we supposed to quickly manufacture weapons when the system is so convoluted to be answered, "oh, we'd just have to drop the system and do it manually". How stupid is that? The idea is to be able to replenish faster than the adversary. We need to clean house asap!

Military waste should be looked in to.. an audit is in order... BUT.. ALL waste should be looked in to.. and spending in areas where the government is not constitutionally charged needs to be cut, not even looked in to... eliminated without a second thought

 

[DiamondDave]

What amazes me is how you libs can be so two-faced.

You want Big Government to care for you from cradle to grave - but are blind to the fact that only dictatorial government can do so and such governments require strong military arms to back their threats.

You fail to even consider the billions upon billions of dollars in waste that go on across the board in government programs.

We can cut the defense budget in half and still have a strong military.

We can eliminate all government entitlement spending and STILL have charity