Serious Military spending question

[OracleHCR]

A missle is not what I'm talking about, but Cuba, Russia, China or any of the old soviet states have missiles capable of reaching NYC. Those old missles are still there. If some fanatic manages to gain control of just one warhead you think they wouldn't use it?
Kim jeoung il's (sp?) son is even more nuts than he was by the way.

[GeorgesGoons]

Us being "over there" isn't stopping anyone from getting on a plane.

Yea but being there keeps us (Soldiers) as priority number 1. It's much harder for them to get into the country so the best way to kill americans is to head off to Afghanistan or wherever we may be after that. We are more than equipped to handle that.

[beercop]

It would not take a nuke. Release a nerve agent in a densely populated area or polluting the water supply would rec havoc and shut down our economy which is what they want.

BTW, I think everyone should do two years military. It would be good for our society as a whole.

[DRiccio21]

Kind of off topic but sort of on....

My neighbor and I were talking about this the other day. It seems like since 9/11 we've been inundated with "America, Fuck Yeah!" type messages at every turn. I have no problem with this. I count myself lucky to live here and love my country despite its numerous flaws. But it seems like as our economy goes to shit and we find ourselves encumbered in seemingly endless conflicts, we're being encouraged to almost worship our country at every turn. It seems like every public event now has to start with a "Tribute to America". I feel like at times I'm being propogandized to. I can't help but think that this isn't just coincedence. Is this perceived push to love America (in my eyes) being mandated from above? If so, is it because we're worse off than we the public are being allowed to know and our loyalty is being nurtured? Just some of my thoughts. Anybody else got anything?

no matter how true that may be, there is no greater blessing i've ever had (other than being healthy and having great parents) than being born in this country.

i think the biggest problem with our country is that we've been given so much for so long and haven't had to 'fight' for anything in so long that we just expect things now which is why so many socialistic thoughts are becoming more popular. people don't really get the importance of capitalism and the freedoms and liberties we have.

[GeorgesGoons]

Kind of off topic but sort of on....

My neighbor and I were talking about this the other day. It seems like since 9/11 we've been inundated with "America, Fuck Yeah!" type messages at every turn. I have no problem with this. I count myself lucky to live here and love my country despite its numerous flaws. But it seems like as our economy goes to shit and we find ourselves encumbered in seemingly endless conflicts, we're being encouraged to almost worship our country at every turn. It seems like every public event now has to start with a "Tribute to America". I feel like at times I'm being propogandized to. I can't help but think that this isn't just coincedence. Is this perceived push to love America (in my eyes) being mandated from above? If so, is it because we're worse off than we the public are being allowed to know and our loyalty is being nurtured? Just some of my thoughts. Anybody else got anything?

no matter how true that may be, there is no greater blessing i've ever had (other than being healthy and having great parents) than being born in this country.

i think the biggest problem with our country is that we've been given so much for so long and haven't had to 'fight' for anything in so long that we just expect things now which is why so many socialistic thoughts are becoming more popular. people don't really get the importance of capitalism and the freedoms and liberties we have.

Well put Dave.

[brett11253]

I think one of the largest growing problems in the US, is the burdon student loans play on college students

I can start a war in here (believe I have, actually) calling the education system the most purposely corrupt part of our country and nothing is close. From the substitute on up to the DoE, it is the most wasteful and useless system we have while also costing the participants the most.

It turns my stomach.

I like prosecutors more than I like school administrators.

Read the price of inequality. Great section on how corrupt and bs student loans are. Great fucking book. By Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz

[trendon]

Trendon, I barely know you, but I already know you live in a bubble, I know you are smart, and I am sure you think are you so much more educated than the rest of us...but in fact you lack common sense. You are given a freedom that soldiers now...in the past, and in the future have fought for...they fight for our freedom

Soldiers fought for our freedom once. In the events leading up to 1776. The only people who can take away our freedoms are Congress and they do so daily. You are confusing safety with freedom, and my sir, those are not even close to being synonymous.

[brwnbear]

I think one of the largest growing problems in the US, is the burdon student loans play on college students

I can start a war in here (believe I have, actually) calling the education system the most purposely corrupt part of our country and nothing is close. From the substitute on up to the DoE, it is the most wasteful and useless system we have while also costing the participants the most.

It turns my stomach.

I like prosecutors more than I like school administrators.

Read the price of inequality. Great section on how corrupt and bs student loans are. Great fucking book. By Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz

Its a good thing no one forces you to take them. God forbid if you actually have to work your way through school.

[autiger730]

A missle is not what I'm talking about, but Cuba, Russia, China or any of the old soviet states have missiles capable of reaching NYC. Those old missles are still there. If some fanatic manages to gain control of just one warhead you think they wouldn't use it?
Kim jeoung il's (sp?) son is even more nuts than he was by the way.

Cuba does not have nuclear weapons of any kind. North Korea has at most 10 warheads, but they are more likely to blow it up at launch than actually be able to reach the US. Again I ask, how would the nuke get here? Nobody is hopping a flight with one. So, you're other options are shipping it on a boat, and/or sneaking it across one of the largely unprotected borders. How safe do you feel now?



That is in 2010. 64,000 in countries that we haven't been enemies with in 60 fucking years. Almost 10k in England. England!!!! When was the last time we had an altercation with them? By the way

[brett11253]

We have bases in every country so we can be anywhere at all times in a minutes notice. Don't tell me were still fighting Hitler with 55k troops. Tax dollars hard at work.
Also, you think one our millions of satellites and anti missles/air aircraft would easily be able to shoot one of these down over either the pacific or atlantic. Plus the minute they launch one they know they get about 50 back in return. They arnt stupid. Why do you think the cold war was all bullshit. No one and I mean no one is going to be the one to start the nuclear war. It only worked when we were the only ones. Now that everyone has one the minutes one is launched 10 more are in the air.

[trendon]

but I already know you live in a bubble

... and wait a second! Pick your words more carefully there. If you are going to accuse someone of "living in a bubble" please make sure they aren't the ones with the dissenting opinion.

[OracleHCR]

A missle is not what I'm talking about, but Cuba, Russia, China or any of the old soviet states have missiles capable of reaching NYC. Those old missles are still there. If some fanatic manages to gain control of just one warhead you think they wouldn't use it?
Kim jeoung il's (sp?) son is even more nuts than he was by the way.

Cuba does not have nuclear weapons of any kind. North Korea has at most 10 warheads, but they are more likely to blow it up at launch than actually be able to reach the US. Again I ask, how would the nuke get here? Nobody is hopping a flight with one. So, you're other options are shipping it on a boat, and/or sneaking it across one of the largely unprotected borders. How safe do you feel now?



That is in 2010. 64,000 in countries that we haven't been enemies with in 60 fucking years. Almost 10k in England. England!!!! When was the last time we had an altercation with them? By the way

Fine lets bring them back. Let's cut defense spending and let the unemployment rate jump to 50% when all these troops are kicked out of their respective branch of the service. How good would that be for the economy? You'll be paying them anyways with the unemployment. People like you are so short sighted that you don't even understand the consequences of your proposed actions. That's fine though. Sit back in your little world and complain and bitch about shit that you have no clue about. Then 5 years down the road when something happens that could have been avoided by having a military presence you can bitch about how our government fucked up.

[brett11253]

no. all that wasted spending would be given back to you and us. not just you. well... and the govt.

[brett11253]

$87.7 billion in spending for the Afghanistan war....." Nearly 90 BILLION to fight a 3rd world country with no air force or navy? For one year? ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS
Thats what the House just approved. And thats after how many years into this? We're still spending this much like its nothing. Everyone has gone crazy

and oh wait. Republicans hate spending. Only when its helping Americans.

[nick]

even America's allies lie to them during wars. Pakistan was on US's side.. and woops, Osama was living like a mile from a Pakistan military base. Ya, sure they didnt see him in town

[GeorgesGoons]

$87.7 billion in spending for the Afghanistan war....." Nearly 90 BILLION to fight a 3rd world country with no air force or navy? For one year? ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS
Thats what the House just approved. And thats after how many years into this? We're still spending this much like its nothing. Everyone has gone crazy

and oh wait. Republicans hate spending. Only when its helping Americans.

Do you really believe we are not using any Air Force or Navy in Iraq? Have you heard of the Predator UAV? Have you ever heard of SEALS? Do you even have a clue what is going on in Afghanistan? I would love to know what you think that money is being spent on. I know where a lot of that money is going, I'll anxiously await your reply.

[Weasel]

Read the price of inequality. Great section on how corrupt and bs student loans are. Great fucking book. By Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz

Its a good thing no one forces you to take them. God forbid if you actually have to work your way through school.

While I agree the cost is getting out of hand, as someone who has likely taken out more in student loans than anyone here, I knew exactly what I was getting into, with every intention to pay it back in full. The interest sucks, the amount sucks, but I knew damn well what I was signing when I took the loans out.

Nothing bothers me more than hearing someone say they just didnt know what they were getting into (with regards to taking out loans). Ignorance is not an excuse

[autiger730]

A missle is not what I'm talking about, but Cuba, Russia, China or any of the old soviet states have missiles capable of reaching NYC. Those old missles are still there. If some fanatic manages to gain control of just one warhead you think they wouldn't use it?
Kim jeoung il's (sp?) son is even more nuts than he was by the way.

Cuba does not have nuclear weapons of any kind. North Korea has at most 10 warheads, but they are more likely to blow it up at launch than actually be able to reach the US. Again I ask, how would the nuke get here? Nobody is hopping a flight with one. So, you're other options are shipping it on a boat, and/or sneaking it across one of the largely unprotected borders. How safe do you feel now?



That is in 2010. 64,000 in countries that we haven't been enemies with in 60 fucking years. Almost 10k in England. England!!!! When was the last time we had an altercation with them? By the way

Fine lets bring them back. Let's cut defense spending and let the unemployment rate jump to 50% when all these troops are kicked out of their respective branch of the service. How good would that be for the economy? You'll be paying them anyways with the unemployment. People like you are so short sighted that you don't even understand the consequences of your proposed actions. That's fine though. Sit back in your little world and complain and bitch about shit that you have no clue about. Then 5 years down the road when something happens that could have been avoided by having a military presence you can bitch about how our government fucked up.

The unemployment rate would jump to 50%? Really? We have 90 million people in the military? But, I'm the one without a clue. Ok. I completely understand what I'm asking for. Quit spending money on useless thing and spend it on things that could benefit us. I've already given several examples of what that could be. You mentioned Cuba and Venezuela, if the people running those joints are such threats, why are we halfway around the world fucking with other douche bags who have little to no means of attacking us? Castro has been an asshole for nearly 70 years. What have we done to help those poor people down there? Rescue them off the barrels they float here on? Meanwhile we are trying to force democracy on people who are for the most part uneducated and clearly don't want it, don't believe in it, but just want to be ruled by their religious laws. There is a war going on in Mexico, right around the border, as we speak, but no one seems to be concerned one bit about that.

[autiger730]

$87.7 billion in spending for the Afghanistan war....." Nearly 90 BILLION to fight a 3rd world country with no air force or navy? For one year? ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS
Thats what the House just approved. And thats after how many years into this? We're still spending this much like its nothing. Everyone has gone crazy

and oh wait. Republicans hate spending. Only when its helping Americans.

Do you really believe we are not using any Air Force or Navy in Iraq? Have you heard of the Predator UAV? Have you ever heard of SEALS? Do you even have a clue what is going on in Afghanistan? I would love to know what you think that money is being spent on. I know where a lot of that money is going, I'll anxiously await your reply.

He didn't say we weren't using ours, he just said they don't have either one. Don't hol back. Enlighten us. Where is the money going? Not being an ass, I would really like to know.

would just like to get this on record...... I work for a defense contractor.

[OracleHCR]

Yes you are clueless. Do you have any idea how many civilians work on or around military bases? How many people are employed by DODD schools overseas? How many defense contractors (you) that will lose their jobs? That's not even getting into closing bases here in the states. Whole towns will lose their main source of income.
I agree more needs to be done closer to home. You just can't leave the rest of the world unattended. Who else is going to do it? The UN? That's a joke.