Thread: Military Spending

Originally Posted by AussiePostie

Just a thought, in the U.S.A you produce nearly all your own military items so in a way does this spending actually have a benifit to the economy of the country in providing thousands of civillian jobs in all the industries supplying this all consuming organisation, even in this economic down turn?

So does paying people to build roads. I simply think some, not all, of the spending could be cut and better spent on something else, or given back to the taxpayer.

I am employed by the US Military, and that's about all I can say. While I do not have access to very secret information, I know/have seen enough to legitimately believe that some are being naive when it comes to trying to understand military budget cut options without knowing what the money is being spent on. It's not just troops and deployments. There is an entire military infrastructure that is annually being modernized to stay competitive because, if it is not, the warfighter / country / civilians (both US and world) are at risk.

I know that's vague, and I'd hate to say "take my word for it", but take my word for it.

So, I agree with Leighton. Just like any other political entity, there is plenty of fat that can be trimmed. Unfortunately, if the decision to "trim the fat" is made, I'm fairly confident that it will come at the expense of very important military programs, and not where it belongs (brass, politicians, bad budgeting, poor decision making, etc.)

I almost didn't post this message because I can't really go into detail, but what the hell... we're among friends here.

Ogie

Originally Posted by Leighton

So does paying people to build roads. I simply think some, not all, of the spending could be cut and better spent on something else, or given back to the taxpayer.

Or simply not taken from the taxpayer in the first place. People forget this sometimes...but low taxes are just as good for the economy as high taxes.

Money needs to move.

I know one thing that has been repeated many times in our history. Shortly after there has been a cut in military spending there is an event where we have been caught flat footed. Guess who cries the loudest? A commission is established to find out how the guys that ran this thing could be so stupid and it turns out that it was the very people that cut the budget for the military, CIA, and FBI in the first place. There are truly evil people in this world and it is naive to think that they can be appeased or made to see reason and that is another thing that we repeat over and over again in the history of mankind.

I remember a cartoon in the paper, back in the 70's, that showed a hippie couple walking into their obviously ransacked apartment and the guy says "Call the pigs, we have been ripped off!"


Later,
Richard

Originally Posted by riooso

I know one thing that has been repeated many times in our history. Shortly after there has been a cut in military spending there is an event where we have been caught flat footed. Guess who cries the loudest? A commission is established to find out how the guys that ran this thing could be so stupid and it turns out that it was the very people that cut the budget for the military, CIA, and FBI in the first place. There are truly evil people in this world and it is naive to think that they can be appeased or made to see reason and that is another thing that we repeat over and over again in the history of mankind.

I remember a cartoon in the paper, back in the 70's, that showed a hippie couple walking into their obviously ransacked apartment and the guy says "Call the pigs, we have been ripped off!"


Later,
Richard

Interesting claim. Do you have any facts to support it? I also wonder if blaming the budget cuts is just a convenient scape goat.

If everyone was givena choice to what their taxes went towards then people would vote with their wallet. People would start pulling away from the military budget, and the bill would keep getting passed on and keep getting bigger, until it landed on the doorstep of the last hardened supporter of the war holdout. And suddenly faced with the bill it wouldnt matter THAT much to him. Same goes for the next day when he opens the door and see's his new bill for the war on drugs, all of a sudden who cares if some guy down the road likes to smoke pot.

For some reason I feel that the money the government spends on most things doesn't actually exist. If they were to cut down on military spending would it actually save the average tax payer money? I don't believe so. I'm not sure but it seems the government is spending a lot more money then could be coming from taxes.


The money is going to be spent either way. Rather on Military then on "save the green horned pond slugs" foundation.

Originally Posted by Leighton

Interesting claim. Do you have any facts to support it? I also wonder if blaming the budget cuts is just a convenient scape goat.

Read the 911 Commission Report set up by the more liberal people in congress and the senate. Stove piping the FBI, CIA and local police lead to government agencies that could not talk to each other. The report was basically buried by the originators of the original commission because a strong case was made against politicians and individuals that did not understand the damage that they were doing by their actions. Anybody that grew up in the 70's and 80's got their head filled about the "MAN" and the "MILITARY COMPLEX" being evil. I agree there has to be responsible oversight on all the branches of government but all to often there are demigods on both sides of the issue that always shove their beliefs down the throats of the people that do not happen to be in power at the time. We really need to come to some middle ground and that is going to be difficult considering there are wacko factions in the US that want the military dismantled and will do so incrementally if necessary. The CIA, FBI, and Military were victims of such a concerted effort by many said individuals and groups. We still come down to the basic fact that we need the military for many functions one of which is protection. Not always implemented with absolute stellar wisdom, but none the less, necessary IMHO.

Take Care,
Richard

Originally Posted by JokiJo

For some reason I feel that the money the government spends on most things doesn't actually exist. If they were to cut down on military spending would it actually save the average tax payer money? I don't believe so. I'm not sure but it seems the government is spending a lot more money then could be coming from taxes.


The money is going to be spent either way. Rather on Military then on "save the green horned pond slugs" foundation.

They can make money, if they want more.