Poll shows Americans oppose entitlement cuts to deal with debt problem

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

Iraq and Afghanistan

Before we start cutting programs that help Americans, we need to get out of those two hell holes

and libya and the drone strikes in pakistan too.

But yeah, we agree.

 

[P F Tinmore]

Stop all wars.
Close all foreign military bases.
Stop all foreign aid.
End the Fed.
End homeland security.

 

[Two Thumbs]

Under the Department of Defense, I found this gem:

Backs the Nation’s Troops and Their Families. Today’s servicemembers make up the most elite and proficient fighting force in the world, and their strength depends on the strength and stability of their families. Overall, the Budget provides $8.3 billion to support military
families, including $1.2 billion to expand availability of affordable, high-quality child care; $4.7 billion to improve servicemembers’ quality of life; and $2.4 billion to sustain and build DOD schools, supporting quality education for military dependents.

WTF? Improve their quality of life how? That seems like an easy $4.7BILLION savings to me!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2012/assets/defense.pdf

The budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development includes $4.5 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program, meant to promote investments to expand economic opportunities for low-income families.

I found $4.5 Billion.

 

[VaYank5150]

Under the Department of Defense, I found this gem:

Backs the Nation’s Troops and Their Families. Today’s servicemembers make up the most elite and proficient fighting force in the world, and their strength depends on the strength and stability of their families. Overall, the Budget provides $8.3 billion to support military
families, including $1.2 billion to expand availability of affordable, high-quality child care; $4.7 billion to improve servicemembers’ quality of life; and $2.4 billion to sustain and build DOD schools, supporting quality education for military dependents.

WTF? Improve their quality of life how? That seems like an easy $4.7BILLION savings to me!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2012/assets/defense.pdf

The budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development includes $4.5 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program, meant to promote investments to expand economic opportunities for low-income families.

I found $4.5 Billion.

Also, in the Defense budget:

Modernizes Weapon Systems. A major goal of the Administration is to provide servicemembers
with the most effective and modern equipment
possible in a cost-efficient manner. To accomplish this, the Budget requests $113 billion to continue to procure advanced weapons systems and other equipment to support both today’s wars and future conflicts. These include: upgraded armored
vehicles to better protect the troops ($593 million), the Virginia class submarine to improve the Navy’s ability to operate in coastal waters and support special operations forces ($4.7 billion),
the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite to provide secure communications to all branches of the Armed Forces ($975 million), and the stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ($9.7 billion).The Budget also bolsters the capabilities of the key components in the ongoing effort to rebalance
the military to focus on current and emerging
threats, namely, cyber and electronic warfare, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and helicopters.

Since we are all now about following the Constitution, and the Constitution calls for "DEFENSE", why do we need a STEALTH STRIKE FIGHTER? For defense?

Hell, that's another $9.7 BILLION, right there.

 

[Two Thumbs]

Under the Department of Defense, I found this gem:



WTF? Improve their quality of life how? That seems like an easy $4.7BILLION savings to me!

http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2012/assets/defense.pdf

The budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development includes $4.5 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program, meant to promote investments to expand economic opportunities for low-income families.

I found $4.5 Billion.

Also, in the Defense budget:

Modernizes Weapon Systems. A major goal of the Administration is to provide servicemembers
with the most effective and modern equipment
possible in a cost-efficient manner. To accomplish this, the Budget requests $113 billion to continue to procure advanced weapons systems and other equipment to support both today’s wars and future conflicts. These include: upgraded armored
vehicles to better protect the troops ($593 million), the Virginia class submarine to improve the Navy’s ability to operate in coastal waters and support special operations forces ($4.7 billion),
the Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite to provide secure communications to all branches of the Armed Forces ($975 million), and the stealthy F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ($9.7 billion).The Budget also bolsters the capabilities of the key components in the ongoing effort to rebalance
the military to focus on current and emerging
threats, namely, cyber and electronic warfare, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and helicopters.

Since we are all now about following the Constitution, and the Constitution calls for "DEFENSE", why do we need a STEALTH STRIKE FIGHTER? For defense?

Hell, that's another $9.7 BILLION, right there.

The document proposes investing more than $6 billion on cancer research and more than $4 billion to expand health-care services for American Indians and Alaska natives, in addition to more money to detect, prevent and treat AIDS. Other areas addressed under spending for the Department of Health and Human Services include additional financing for Early Head Start and Head Start, $73 million to improve health care in rural areas and support for state and local efforts to reduce pregnancy among teen-agers.

Little over $10 Billion

 

[VaYank5150]

Do we REALLY need yet another submarine at a cost of $4.7 BILLION?

 

[martybegan]

Do we REALLY need yet another submarine at a cost of $4.7 BILLION?

The problem with items such as this is if you dont have it and you suddenly need it, whatever country that had decided to play interdict the sea lanes will not give you a pass for the 4 years it takes to build it.

 

[P F Tinmore]

We don't need the ATF or the DEA.

 

[Toro]

JP Morgan has a piece out concluding that not raising the debt ceiling temporarily would cause Gdp to be at least 1% lower.

 

[VaYank5150]

Do we REALLY need yet another submarine at a cost of $4.7 BILLION?

The problem with items such as this is if you dont have it and you suddenly need it, whatever country that had decided to play interdict the sea lanes will not give you a pass for the 4 years it takes to build it.

Are you saying that the 73 submarines we already have in service cannot handle such an interdiction?

 

[Two Thumbs]

Do we REALLY need yet another submarine at a cost of $4.7 BILLION?

Probably not.

Sub and anti-sub tech of foreign countries has lagged behind greatly. And with the fall of Russia, few have the training and resources to keep up.

however

Subs are put through some heavy duty work loads, and have fairly short life spans compared to surface ships. [you get a hole in the hull of a skimmer, it's nothing to panic over, get one in a sub...] So they need to be replaced. So we can either re-do the interior or do a full upgrade.

I'm a Sub Sailor. Feel free to ask anything you want about subs and our affect on the world.

 

[Dr.Drock]

Do we REALLY need yet another submarine at a cost of $4.7 BILLION?

The problem with items such as this is if you dont have it and you suddenly need it, whatever country that had decided to play interdict the sea lanes will not give you a pass for the 4 years it takes to build it.

Are you saying that the 73 submarines we already have in service cannot handle such an interdiction?

If we don't build a 74th Al Qaeda will build 74 and take over america.

 

[VaYank5150]

Do we REALLY need yet another submarine at a cost of $4.7 BILLION?

Probably not.

Sub and anti-sub tech of foreign countries has lagged behind greatly. And with the fall of Russia, few have the training and resources to keep up.

however

Subs are put through some heavy duty work loads, and have fairly short life spans compared to surface ships. [you get a hole in the hull of a skimmer, it's nothing to panic over, get one in a sub...] So they need to be replaced. So we can either re-do the interior or do a full upgrade.

I'm a Sub Sailor. Feel free to ask anything you want about subs and our affect on the world.

How often are they used to defend our shores?

 

[Two Thumbs]

do we really need yet another submarine at a cost of $4.7 billion?

probably not.

Sub and anti-sub tech of foreign countries has lagged behind greatly. And with the fall of russia, few have the training and resources to keep up.

However

subs are put through some heavy duty work loads, and have fairly short life spans compared to surface ships. [you get a hole in the hull of a skimmer, it's nothing to panic over, get one in a sub...] so they need to be replaced. So we can either re-do the interior or do a full upgrade.

I'm a sub sailor. Feel free to ask anything you want about subs and our affect on the world.

how often are they used to defend our shores?

24/7/365

*edit*

24/7/366 in a leap year

 

[brokenarrow]

Stop all wars.
Close all foreign military bases.
Stop all foreign aid.
End the Fed.
End homeland security.

Then lets go back to the ol' West where everyone was responsible for protecting themselves. Strap on that .45! Yahoo!

 

[VaYank5150]

probably not.

Sub and anti-sub tech of foreign countries has lagged behind greatly. And with the fall of russia, few have the training and resources to keep up.

However

subs are put through some heavy duty work loads, and have fairly short life spans compared to surface ships. [you get a hole in the hull of a skimmer, it's nothing to panic over, get one in a sub...] so they need to be replaced. So we can either re-do the interior or do a full upgrade.

I'm a sub sailor. Feel free to ask anything you want about subs and our affect on the world.

how often are they used to defend our shores?

24/7/365

All 73 of them?

 

[PLYMCO_PILGRIM]

Stop all wars.
Close all foreign military bases.
Stop all foreign aid.
End the Fed.
End homeland security.

Then lets go back to the ol' West where everyone was responsible for protecting themselves. Strap on that .45! Yahoo!

I already am and do, but its a .38

 

[Two Thumbs]

how often are they used to defend our shores?

24/7/365

All 73 of them?

We take turns patrolling.

some go into dry dock for cleaning, re-painting, re-fitting, upgrades, etc.

we practice war

etc, etc...

 

[martybegan]

Do we REALLY need yet another submarine at a cost of $4.7 BILLION?

The problem with items such as this is if you dont have it and you suddenly need it, whatever country that had decided to play interdict the sea lanes will not give you a pass for the 4 years it takes to build it.

Are you saying that the 73 submarines we already have in service cannot handle such an interdiction?

It depends. Also american military philosophy is based not on technological superiority, but on technological dominance. We value the lives of a soldiers more than most countries, and have long decided that firepower is more expendable then our troops. Newer technology provides us with a firepower gap that makes our military far more lethal than its competitiors.

The government is mandated to provide for defense. We don't want private compaines handling it, so the government has to.

Lets turn your argument around a bit. for 2010 HUD is budgeted 16 Billion for Tenant housing vouchers. Basically the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT is subsidizing people's rents. Where in the constitution is this defined as a federal task? Why shouldn't the states, if they so choose do it. Or why, if you think this money should be spent, shouldn't this be some charity? Let people who want to spend money on this do it the hard way, find contributors, and subsidize a person's rent. Why does the federal government have to do this?

 

[VaYank5150]

24/7/365

All 73 of them?

We take turns patrolling.

some go into dry dock for cleaning, re-painting, re-fitting, upgrades, etc.

we practice war

etc, etc...

And you only patrol OUR shores for OUR defense, right?