We Spend Too Much On Defense/Military

[sealybobo]

As president, Jefferson again tried to revive his argument. He slashed the size of the army to just over 3000 soldiers, closing forts and cutting costs. But he couldn't kill off the army altogether, because the citizen's militia had never been formalized at a federal level.

ThomHartmann.com - Time To Reconsider Jefferson's Call For Universal Service

 

[MalibuMan]

I disagree. We don't spend enough.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

We should spend 15 to 20 percent of our Budget on the military.

 

[sealybobo]

I disagree. We don't spend enough.

How much is enough?

We spend more than the rest of the world combined and what do we have to justify that much spending?

This is just like healthcare. You guys will ignore the fact that it too has gotten out of control.

Do you have any idea how much money is stolen/fleeced from the American tax payer in the name of defense? A lot more than goes to welfare fraud.

Did you even read the op ed? Of course not.

So stop saying you are for a fiscal responsibility, balancing budgets or tax cuts, because with the kind of defense spending you think is acceptable, those other things are not possible.

So you conservatives live in a fantasy world. One where the government can spend 10 trillion dollars and yet still somehow get you a tax break?

 

[Gunny]

How much is enough?

We spend more than the rest of the world combined and what do we have to justify that much spending?

This is just like healthcare. You guys will ignore the fact that it too has gotten out of control.

Do you have any idea how much money is stolen/fleeced from the American tax payer in the name of defense? A lot more than goes to welfare fraud.

Did you even read the op ed? Of course not.

So stop saying you are for a fiscal responsibility, balancing budgets or tax cuts, because with the kind of defense spending you think is acceptable, those other things are not possible.

So you conservatives live in a fantasy world. One where the government can spend 10 trillion dollars and yet still somehow get you a tax break?

Do you have any idea how much money is stolen/fleeced from the American taxpayer in the name of the US Government? A LOT more than you can claim as fraud by any other single entity.

So stop being the pot calling the kettle black. You're all for bailing out an industry for being a failure with tax dollars, but not defending this nation. Talk about your fantasy worlds ....

 

[michiganFats]

We should spend as much as we need to spend. A lot of people forget that our military does far more than just fight. Our Navy is single-handedly responsible for keeping global shipping lanes open and (relatively) pirate free, our Air Force actually runs a space program that rivals NASA, and even though we may spend a lot of money on defense contracts, once those weapons are developed, they are sold all over the world for quite a bit of money. The case could be made that our military abilities result in a net gain for America and many other countries.

 

[Mr. President]

The people who say that we spend too much money on the military are the people not getting shot at.

 

[sealybobo]

Do you have any idea how much money is stolen/fleeced from the American taxpayer in the name of the US Government? A LOT more than you can claim as fraud by any other single entity.

So stop being the pot calling the kettle black. You're all for bailing out an industry for being a failure with tax dollars, but not defending this nation. Talk about your fantasy worlds ....

Huh? Seems you agree with me here Gunny. You said, "do i have any idea how much is stolen from us in the name of the US Gov.".

That was my point exactly.

Here is my point Gunny. You guys bitch about welfare and at the same time, your party is stealing more through defense.

So when you hear welfare you think of crack mothers. When you hear defense you think of protecting our nation. That's how they sucker dummies like you into defending them when they fleece you, thru defense.

I don't like any government waste/fraud/corruption. I'm all for stopping welfare abuse.

My problem was trying to get guys like you on board to help stop waste/fraud/corruption thru defense spending. But for some reason, you don't want to stop that wasteful spending.

So don't ask for balanced budgets or surpluses or tax breaks. You don't really want/deserve them.

The government will continue to rob us through defense spending because you allow/defend it. And you bitched when Clinton gutted all that wasteful spending. Shame on him, huh?

 

[Andrew2382]

It's ok to give the failing car industry in a failing city and state billions but lets cut defense and military...because who the fuck needs them.

 

[sealybobo]

The people who say that we spend too much money on the military are the people not getting shot at.

See how loyal you guys are to the GOP. I love it. Even when they rip you off, you defend them.

Michiganfats makes some good points, but that doesn't take away the fact that the GOP fleeced the treasury on a lot of bullshit/good old boy/buddy/no bid defense contracts.

I'm not talking ill of good defense contracts. I'm talking about bad ones. And you idiots are suggesting there are no bad defense contracts?

One Pentagon good old boy was duped by a news reporter. The reporter acted like he might want to invest in their crappy car that flipped over at 30 mph. When the guy finally realized it was a reporter, he snapped. These were all ex military guys and I thought they were going to kill that reporter.

Because he exposed their scam. That contract is/was a waste of millions of dollars, and you all know it. But because he's friends with someone at the Pentagon or someone in the White House, he got the contract.

This happened a lot in the last 8 years. Probably billions fleeced in the name of defense.

I bet you more tax dollars are wasted/stolen through defense than are through welfare.

 

[sealybobo]

It's ok to give the failing car industry in a failing city and state billions but lets cut defense and military...because who the fuck needs them.

Would you approve of $10 trillion in defense spending?

How about 900 trillion?

Please tell me what your limit is.

 

[sealybobo]

We should spend as much as we need to spend. A lot of people forget that our military does far more than just fight. Our Navy is single-handedly responsible for keeping global shipping lanes open and (relatively) pirate free, our Air Force actually runs a space program that rivals NASA, and even though we may spend a lot of money on defense contracts, once those weapons are developed, they are sold all over the world for quite a bit of money. The case could be made that our military abilities result in a net gain for America and many other countries.

Bush spent more than we needed to spend.

PS. Defense spending is a huge industry, especially down south.

We should stop spending tax dollars on this. We should let the free markets decide. This is nothing more than socialism.

I wonder how many of the jobs Bush created were paid for by tax payer $?

 

[sealybobo]

We should spend as much as we need to spend. A lot of people forget that our military does far more than just fight. Our Navy is single-handedly responsible for keeping global shipping lanes open and (relatively) pirate free, our Air Force actually runs a space program that rivals NASA, and even though we may spend a lot of money on defense contracts, once those weapons are developed, they are sold all over the world for quite a bit of money. The case could be made that our military abilities result in a net gain for America and many other countries.

Why no one dares attack the waste in defense spending

Hawks and Hogs: Why no one dares attack the waste in defense spending - Reason Magazine

The final version of the 2006 Department of Defense appropriations bill, for example, included $1.3 million for Lewis and Clark Appreciation Day. In 2005 the Foreign Supplier Assessment Center, operated by a firm involved in bribing former California Republican Rep. Duke Cunningham, received $3 million in funds. In the 2006 budget, passed before Cunningham resigned, its appropriation shot up to $9 million.

or

A former Iraqi official estimated yesterday that more than $13 billion meant for reconstruction projects in Iraq was wasted or stolen through elaborate fraud schemes.

 

[Andrew2382]

We should stop spending tax dollars on this. We should let the free markets decide. This is nothing more than socialism.

I wonder how many of the jobs Bush created were paid for by tax payer $?

actually you fucking hack...defense and military are one of the things that should be provide dby the governemnt and tax payer money.

not unviseral healthcare


go make a thread about your shitty auto companies in the wonderful prosperous city of Detriot

 

[Mr. President]

We never said that the defense contracts were perfect. But your generalized statement once again showed that your arguement would have no validity as presented. Now if you would say that there were aspects of the defense budget that could be further screwtinized then I would agree but the genereal statement that we spend to much money on defense is in and of itself a ridiculous statement seeing as how our defense forces are the very center of this country and the world!

 

[CSM]

We never said that the defense contracts were perfect. But your generalized statement once again showed that your arguement would have no validity as presented. Now if you would say that there were aspects of the defense budget that could be further screwtinized then I would agree but the genereal statement that we spend to much money on defense is in and of itself a ridiculous statement seeing as how our defense forces are the very center of this country and the world!

Not one penny for defense...that's what I say!

In fact, this nation should turn over all current military equipment to the UN, discharge all those currently serving and dismantle the evil military industrial complex that has been the downfall of this country.

While we are at it, to solve the global warming problem, this country should make any device capable of generating emmissions which contribute to the global rise in temperature illegal.

We should also make ALL items which could be used as a weapon illegal, return all lands over to the remaining Native Americans, make it illegal for white males to go to school or work at high paying jobs, outlaw religion of any kind, declare our borders as no longer existing, legalize any and all mind altering substances and deport anyone registered as a Republican. The judicial system should be dismantled, any corporation making any kind of profit should be fined until no longer solvent, and eating meat should be a crime.

That should cover just about everything (plus a few more) that the OP bitches about on this board.

 

[Andrew2382]

CSM, I like your idea

But instead of just totally disolving the military which is silly, just need to give them some rocks and slingshots to go out there and fight.

Replace navy ships with wooden rowboats and air force jets with paper airplanes with really pointy tips to inflict the most horrific paper cuts known to man

 

[sealybobo]

actually you fucking hack...defense and military are one of the things that should be provide dby the governemnt and tax payer money.

not unviseral healthcare


go make a thread about your shitty auto companies in the wonderful prosperous city of Detriot

So you are going to ignore all the money that was stolen from us in the name of defense?

Very interesting.

How you gonna ask for a tax break when Bush spent $100 trillion on defense.

He didn't spend that much you say? Well according to you, they can never spend too much on defense.

Even if Bush wrote himself a check for $1 billion and spent it on hookers and booze, you would be ok with it, because it was defense spending.

You hate the idea that some poor person might be getting welfare when they can work but you don't mind a bullshit defense contract going to a millionaire.

 

[michiganFats]

Bush spent over 95% of the Gross Domestic Product on defense every year in which he served as President? No wonder we're in a recession.

 

[Andrew2382]

no I don't mind the welfare person getting a check so he/she can support the family while they go to work.

What pisses me off is the person who has 11 kids, no job, does drugs, and does nothing to improve their life getting welfare.

100 trillion? why not a zillion

I mean hell you are just throwing out numbers.