Why do we spend so much (that we don't have) on BOMBS and GUNS?

[Samson]

Why do we spend so much on military? Theories?

We're #1, and we spend as much as numbers 2-15... Combined. Why? Is there anyone out there who actually believes we need to spend this much for traditional defense/safety reasons?

I've got my own theories but if it pleases the court I'd like to hear from ya'all first.

The American Economy Depends on the Defense Industry.

Precisely... Now run with it...

There's not very far to run........

As a result the American Economy is the Strongest, Most Secure, on the planet, and if you want a stable investment you put it on American Soil?

 

[jillian]

Last I checked the defense budget is like 5 percent of the budget or less.

more like between 14% and 15%, I think, though I've seen estimates that are higher.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Why do we spend so much on military? Theories? .

Because bombs are cool.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Last I checked the defense budget is like 5 percent of the budget or less.

more like between 14% and 15%, I think, though I've seen estimates that are higher.

It's about 19%

File:Fy2010 spending by category.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Cuyo]

Last I checked the defense budget is like 5 percent of the budget or less.

more like between 14% and 15%, I think, though I've seen estimates that are higher.

DOD alone is 18.7% this year, Jilly. Factor in other military protocol, it's nearly 1/3.

It's also greater than half of discretionary spending.

[edit] The interest on previous expenditures is part of the 1/3 figure

 

[Cecilie1200]

Last I checked the defense budget is like 5 percent of the budget or less.

more like between 14% and 15%, I think, though I've seen estimates that are higher.

It's about 19%

File:Fy2010 spending by category.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I think Retired meant to say that defense is about 5% of the GDP, which it is.

 

[Cecilie1200]

Last I checked the defense budget is like 5 percent of the budget or less.

more like between 14% and 15%, I think, though I've seen estimates that are higher.

DOD alone is 18.7% this year, Jilly. Factor in other military protocol, it's nearly 1/3.

It's also greater than half of discretionary spending.

[edit] The interest on previous expenditures is part of the 1/3 figure

Did you look how much mandatory spending dwarfs discretionary spending? This is especially problematic, in my view, because so much of mandatory spending isn't even Constitutional. Yet for some reason, it's the spending on national defense that you want to gripe about.

 

[Cuyo]

more like between 14% and 15%, I think, though I've seen estimates that are higher.

DOD alone is 18.7% this year, Jilly. Factor in other military protocol, it's nearly 1/3.

It's also greater than half of discretionary spending.

[edit] The interest on previous expenditures is part of the 1/3 figure

Did you look how much mandatory spending dwarfs discretionary spending? This is especially problematic, in my view, because so much of mandatory spending isn't even Constitutional. Yet for some reason, it's the spending on national defense that you want to gripe about.

I'm not even griping in this thread necessarily, although I do and will continue to gripe about the massive waste in our military-industrial complex. I'm trying to ascertain how many of you think we actually need to spend this much money for defense purposes.

Re mandatory spending, you overlook that Social Security is a separate entity, paid from a separate payroll tax designated for that purpose; Not from income taxes. It is still collecting more money than it's disbursing, although you'd never know it just from reading posts around here.

However the program is in deep shit, because people gotta be johnny-live-a-lots and collect benefits for 20-30 years; Unlike the 0-5 years the program was designed for. Hence it needs to be revamped; Just the same, it is NOT losing money this year, nor has it yet in any year.

 

[jillian]

Last I checked the defense budget is like 5 percent of the budget or less.

more like between 14% and 15%, I think, though I've seen estimates that are higher.

DOD alone is 18.7% this year, Jilly. Factor in other military protocol, it's nearly 1/3.

It's also greater than half of discretionary spending.

[edit] The interest on previous expenditures is part of the 1/3 figure

it does appear that if you factor in the state department/other international programs, the number goes significantly higher.

then if you add in homeland security, there isn't a lot left for other things.

 

[Ragnar]

- We have the most to protect

- Spending $1 in the USA is not the same as $1 most other places. Take China, please. (I'm truly sorry for that) Take China, where with virtual slave labor they get a Hell of a lot more bang for the buck.

- We spend a ton of money making our military as humanitarian as possible. (training, tactics, smart bombs, medical care etc etc)

- Almost all of us spend 15-20% on self protection when you add up car insurance, medical insurance, home or rental insurance. Some buy guns, some spend extra to live in safe neighborhoods etc etc. (now show me the home insurance company that will come protect your home with an F-22, lol)

- Only fair to note, as with everything run by the government there is all the usual fraud waste and abuse one can expect from Uncle Sam. That aint cheap

- Because the USA is supersexyawsome!

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWS-FoXbjVI]YouTube - America - Fuck Yeah![/ame]

 

[Avatar4321]

Because we aren't suicidal and you guys waste our money on failing social programs and government waste so our politicians can live lives of comfort.

I suppose youd prefer we were suicidal and still spent money we don't have on failing social programs and government waste so our politicians can live lives of comfort?

Crazy idea here. How about we actually limit the Federal Government to the areas that the Constitution actually authorizes? You know, the national defense stuff and not the socialism crap. That way, we can spend money we do have on our national defense and no one from either party can whine about spending money we don't have.

 

[Avatar4321]

Plus you are the world's policeman...

No, the UN is the world's policeman...............

No. The UN is the world's joke.

 

[Avatar4321]

Oh and also because for some reason our politicians seem to think the only way to fix a problem we have in society is to throw money at it. They don't stop to think that maybe there is more to it than that.

 

[Ragnar]

Plus you are the world's policeman...

No, the UN is the world's policeman...............

No. The UN is the world's joke.

Of course, we pay for most of that too.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

Last I checked the defense budget is like 5 percent of the budget or less.

more like between 14% and 15%, I think, though I've seen estimates that are higher.

DOD alone is 18.7% this year, Jilly. Factor in other military protocol, it's nearly 1/3.

It's also greater than half of discretionary spending.

[edit] The interest on previous expenditures is part of the 1/3 figure

LOL interest? Really? So can we factor in the interest on all the social programs too?

The wars do not count, the defense budget is not 18 percent. Hasn't been that in MANY years. But you delusional keep on making bogus claims. Once again for the STUPID and the slow. Defense is a REQUIRED expenditure and responsibility as directed by the Constitution. Social spending is neither required nor even authorized, that is all States concerns, the federal Government has no authority in the matter at all.

 

[Political Junky]

Why do we spend so much on military? Theories?

We're #1, and we spend as much as numbers 2-15... Combined. Why? Is there anyone out there who actually believes we need to spend this much for traditional defense/safety reasons?

I've got my own theories but if it pleases the court I'd like to hear from ya'all first.

The American Economy Depends on the Defense Industry.

Precisely... Now run with it...

Eisenhower warned us of the Military Industrial Complex. Coming from a man who ran the war in Europe, it's profound.

 

[Political Junky]

The American Economy Depends on the Defense Industry.

Precisely... Now run with it...

There's not very far to run........

As a result the American Economy is the Strongest, Most Secure, on the planet, and if you want a stable investment you put it on American Soil?

A few years ago we were the greatest creditor nation. Today we're the biggest debtor nation.

 

[my2¢]

Why do we spend so much on military? Theories?

We're #1, and we spend as much as numbers 2-15... Combined. Why? Is there anyone out there who actually believes we need to spend this much for traditional defense/safety reasons?

I've got my own theories but if it pleases the court I'd like to hear from ya'all first.

While I most often don't agree with the policies that put our soldiers at risk I think it is our upmost responsibility to provide the necessary support to limit those risks. Much of this support involves more than "bombs and guns", I can only suppose that a great deal more goes towards costly development and implementation of advanced battlefield technology. My attitude is it would be unimaginable to skimp on providing for the technical needs that serve our sons and (now) daughters in uniform.

 

[theDoctorisIn]

Last I checked the defense budget is like 5 percent of the budget or less.

Military budget of the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not quite.

 

[bucs90]

Why do we spend so much on guns and bombs?

Because someone has to step in to save the world when shit like Hitler comes around. We are blessed with no immediate geographic threat and two big ass oceans on either side, so we can afford to not only have a big, kick-ass military, but plenty of time to train rather than constantly fight on our borders, like Thailand does.

The result is the best military the world has ever known, and we can save Europe's ass about once every 20 years. You're welcome Frenchies.