North Korea (grossly inaccurately portrayed as a communist country) is in fact a manifestation of what happens when government reduces its role to defender of a tiny minority of ultra-powerful elite. Want to raise taxes in North Korea? YOU CAN’T. No money. Want to cut benefits, make the poor fend for themselves? Make a new rocket and put your picture on it.
You misunderstand, or perhaps you choose not to see. Spending money on national defense is not wasted. Spending $600 on a toilet seat or a hammer is.
I know that’s being overly simplistic, but it cuts both ways. We are spending hundreds of billions for a Star Wars missile defense system that will never work. The Osprey has shown us how quickly we can make billions of dollars crash and burn, literally, yet the program won’t be killed. The Republicans, the party of fiscal responsibility, have insisted we spend $5 billion for a missile defense plan for the east coast; something that the Pentagon, which is not known for fiscal restraint, does not want. I’m willing to bet that a few no-bid contracts that were given to KBR, Halliburton, and/or Blackwater could be cancelled with absolutely no deleterious effects on our safety or security.
Cutting off all defense spending would be just as serious as cutting all domestic spending. No one is advocating tearing down the Pentagon. Republicans advocate building up the Pentagon to even greater heights by cutting all domestic spending.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if our untouchable, continually-increasing defense spending led us to the point that there was nothing left to defend?
I find it amusing that people have no problem seeing people who are on government assistance as being a drain on the economy when corporate welfare is totally ignored. GE spent zero dollars on federal income taxes last year. Do you think they earned zero dollars in the US last year? Which do you think cost us more: no taxes for GE, or unemployment benefits for workers who lost their jobs due to reckless policies in the banking industry? Who would lose more if we stopped both sets of benefits?
And here’s something else for you to chew on: Dubya called Iraq, Iran, and North Korea the “Axis of Evil”. Then he invaded the only country in the “Axis” that didn’t have a nuclear program. What does that say to everyone else? Develop a nuke program, or the US will invade. Another glorious foreign policy decision.
North Korea’s chief ally, China, is the only outside influence having a chance to create change in N Korea’s policies. they live in the 1930’s and this weapons program is all they have to show the world.
First, military dictatorships, whether Stalin or Kim, aren’t “communist”. Nationalism, whether in Germany post WW I, or in Korea, is a dangerous critter that will feed on it’s own. That is what has fed the military-industrial complex here at home as well, and led to “fear and terror” being the rationale for all oppressive actions, even in our “democracy”.
It is time to evaluate where our nation is going, with neither “right”, nor “left”, standing united to work for “We the People”, those with blood pressure, not the SCOTUS created “persons”, now bleeding us dry. Capitalism IS a completely valid and legitimate economic system, WHEN PROPERLY REGULATED, but without regulation FOR the good of ALL, republics fall.
“For non-golfers, the military also maintains a ski lodge and resort in the Bavarian Alps, which opened in 2004 and cost $80 million.”
My proposal for Guantanamo: Close the prison, and turn the base into an R&R facility for enlisted military personnel (and let them bring their families). Open the employment of civilian support to (commuting) Cubans; we can pay them dirt cheap and STILL give them higher wages than they can get on the rest of the island. Camp Club Med.
Richard Howland-Bolton Premium Member over 11 years ago
Fat chance!(if that’s quite the right expression)
Jason Allen over 11 years ago
They don’t get that, either. Civilians are left to starve so that the government elite can eat their fill.
Chillbilly over 11 years ago
North Korea (grossly inaccurately portrayed as a communist country) is in fact a manifestation of what happens when government reduces its role to defender of a tiny minority of ultra-powerful elite. Want to raise taxes in North Korea? YOU CAN’T. No money. Want to cut benefits, make the poor fend for themselves? Make a new rocket and put your picture on it.
I Play One On TV over 11 years ago
You misunderstand, or perhaps you choose not to see. Spending money on national defense is not wasted. Spending $600 on a toilet seat or a hammer is.
I know that’s being overly simplistic, but it cuts both ways. We are spending hundreds of billions for a Star Wars missile defense system that will never work. The Osprey has shown us how quickly we can make billions of dollars crash and burn, literally, yet the program won’t be killed. The Republicans, the party of fiscal responsibility, have insisted we spend $5 billion for a missile defense plan for the east coast; something that the Pentagon, which is not known for fiscal restraint, does not want. I’m willing to bet that a few no-bid contracts that were given to KBR, Halliburton, and/or Blackwater could be cancelled with absolutely no deleterious effects on our safety or security.
Cutting off all defense spending would be just as serious as cutting all domestic spending. No one is advocating tearing down the Pentagon. Republicans advocate building up the Pentagon to even greater heights by cutting all domestic spending.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if our untouchable, continually-increasing defense spending led us to the point that there was nothing left to defend?
I find it amusing that people have no problem seeing people who are on government assistance as being a drain on the economy when corporate welfare is totally ignored. GE spent zero dollars on federal income taxes last year. Do you think they earned zero dollars in the US last year? Which do you think cost us more: no taxes for GE, or unemployment benefits for workers who lost their jobs due to reckless policies in the banking industry? Who would lose more if we stopped both sets of benefits?
And here’s something else for you to chew on: Dubya called Iraq, Iran, and North Korea the “Axis of Evil”. Then he invaded the only country in the “Axis” that didn’t have a nuclear program. What does that say to everyone else? Develop a nuke program, or the US will invade. Another glorious foreign policy decision.
Justice22 over 11 years ago
North Korea’s chief ally, China, is the only outside influence having a chance to create change in N Korea’s policies. they live in the 1930’s and this weapons program is all they have to show the world.
sbeavin over 11 years ago
At least hitler was good enough to outright kill his unwanted people. Seems preferable to what many of the citizens of N Korea have to endure.
Dtroutma over 11 years ago
First, military dictatorships, whether Stalin or Kim, aren’t “communist”. Nationalism, whether in Germany post WW I, or in Korea, is a dangerous critter that will feed on it’s own. That is what has fed the military-industrial complex here at home as well, and led to “fear and terror” being the rationale for all oppressive actions, even in our “democracy”.
It is time to evaluate where our nation is going, with neither “right”, nor “left”, standing united to work for “We the People”, those with blood pressure, not the SCOTUS created “persons”, now bleeding us dry. Capitalism IS a completely valid and legitimate economic system, WHEN PROPERLY REGULATED, but without regulation FOR the good of ALL, republics fall.
fritzoid Premium Member over 11 years ago
“For non-golfers, the military also maintains a ski lodge and resort in the Bavarian Alps, which opened in 2004 and cost $80 million.”
My proposal for Guantanamo: Close the prison, and turn the base into an R&R facility for enlisted military personnel (and let them bring their families). Open the employment of civilian support to (commuting) Cubans; we can pay them dirt cheap and STILL give them higher wages than they can get on the rest of the island. Camp Club Med.
Rickapolis over 11 years ago
Remember, Sarah Palin thinks the North Koreans are our allies.
vwdualnomand over 11 years ago
just waiting until some general says screw this….and revolts….