Excellent, Brian, 2 thumbs up. The amounts of money involved for non-existent threats could have been spent so much more productively, benefitting so many people.
The downfall of our country will be the “fill in the blank” Industrial Complex. Eisenhower coined the term with “Military” Industrial Complex to point out how the alliance of business and the military would siphon off resources that Americans need to line the pockets of capitalists. It’s a no lose proposition, all business needs to do is call anyone who complains weak and traitorous while ginning up a new nebulous threat – communism, radical Islam, the Chinese.
Ask yourself this: ISSIS or Al Queda never fielded more than a division or two of actual troops. They had no airforce, no navy, not even tanks. Why do we need a new carrier task force to fight that?
You can extend that to Health Care. Why do we spend more than everyone else? Because the Health Care industry has figured out how to squeeze every last drop of profit from Americans. It’s simple. Most Americans don’t pay the doctor, their insurance does. Most Americans don’t directly pay for their insurance, their employer does (which is actually a form of salary, but most don’t see it that way). When the hospital sends the bill, it’s to your insurance company. Then they raise premiums and so on.
It’s the American way. It’s the ultimate Ponzi Scheme.
Thank you again Brian. I have recently been despairing over the odd view Americans have of spending tax money. Taxes are gathered from the masses yet when proposals are made to fund infrastructure, education, health care, etc. cries of “Communism” and “Socialism” abound— as if funding programs to help taxpayers themselves is evil. Why can’t we simply regard funding anything other than the military as making us a stronger country? Thank you for writing in support of my thoughts!
Dear Mr. Carroll, Hallelujah!!! As you’ve reminded us, Eisenhower warned us. And NO politicians on either side will ask the question “How much defense is enough?” Karl Hess put this question out there in the 70/80s – and answered it. KISS principle of course. 200,000 rapid deployment force – and the 4 to 5 times that number for support and logistics. Disband all the separate services with their asinine, duplicate and expensive bureaucracies (not to mention all the entitlements resulting from). Melt down all the ships and unneeded airplanes. Keep 20 nuclear powered and nuclear armed subs in the oceans at all times (and be prepared to use them, period – i.e. Kabul or Riyad following 9/11). If anyone attempted a landed invasion of the US and its territories, thanks to the 2nd amendment, they would face guerilla warfare the likes of which, the World has never seen. Money saved? Roads, health, education – and all the other investments in our future. Not to mention, wiping out the deficit. Remember, defense spending has little trickle down benefits to the economy, like private sector spending as so much of it ends up parked in a warehouse. Lets go to the stars instead of killing each other. (and if we stay out of other countries’ affairs, we’ll accumulate less hatred and retaliation). Too simple? That’s the point.
But, but, but fear sells weapons! And … and … and jobs! Jobs, people!
(and kickbacks to congress critters!)
Great work, Brian! Thanks!
Out of curiosity, I wanted to know how much a hospital would cost today. An answer on Quora from 2017 helps.
The University of Texas Southwestern hospital is over 1.3 million square feet and has 532 beds. It cost $800 million. Parkland Memorial, Dallas County’s public hospital, is about 2 million square feet and has 862 beds. It cost $1.3 billion.
Cost of a B-2, about $2.1 billion. So Ike is still right.
Cost of single family house $300,000 (I think this excludes land). 2000 of those for 2000 families of 4 would be$600 million. So new destroyers are even more expensive than in Ike’s time, plus we builld fewer of them.
Imagine the progress in things like high-speed rail, efficient Power Plants, better roads and infrastructure, and the like if some of the Defense contractors like Boeing, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and the like, put as much money and effort into projects to HELP PEOPLE rather then projects to find better ways to KILL THEM!!!!
" … we have seen in a pitiful few months the Eisenhower mind crumble into uncertainty, retire into generalities, fumble with friendships and juggle alliances. At the same time Stevenson has moved serenely on, clarifying his position, holding to his line and never being drawn nor driven from his nongeneralized ideals. … Eisenhower seems like a punch-drunk fighter who comes out of his corner on wavery legs and throws his first punch at the referee." — John Steinbeck, essay on Adlai Stevenson, 1956
“A rising tide lifts all boats.” Well, there’s your problem! The GOP sees that as a bug, not a feature. They want their boat to be lifted and all others to be sunk. It’s no fun if nobody loses.
Enough about the brass knuckles already! The military industrial complex just made another sale with the “loss” of the drone the other day. How many veterans could be served with that money? How many teachers could be paid a respectable salary? How many children could be fed a meal during the school day? How much of the crumbling infrastructure built during the Eisenhower administration could be rebuilt? When will we finally learn a lesson?
My all-time favorite war story concerns the US Marine reaction to a WWII US Army training film on using a bayonet in combat. When the narrator pointed out that a bayonet that became stuck in an enemy body might be freed by firing the rifle on which the bayonet was mounted, the Marines broke out in nearly uncontrollable laughter: “If yer piece ‘ud fire, why in h*ll’d ya let the f*cker git close enuff to stick ’im?”
gigagrouch almost 5 years ago
$45 BILLION (according to the Pentagon 2/2018) a YEAR wasted in Afghanistan -chasing ghosts through the deserts and mountains there.
That’s just the Afghan campaign… how much does it cost to keep a carrier battle group at sea, for example?
How much blood and treasure have been lost since the Iraq fiascoes began?
Do i paint a grim picture or do i understate it?
epaphus8 almost 5 years ago
Canada is looking better and better. If only the winters weren’t so cold there.
mourdac Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Excellent, Brian, 2 thumbs up. The amounts of money involved for non-existent threats could have been spent so much more productively, benefitting so many people.
Durak Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Brilliant, thanks Brian. Only one question. Panel 02, brass knuckles. Really?
Darsan54 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
You know this reminds me, you don’t see present day Republicans remembering Eisenhower that much. After reading these pullouts, I know why.
feverjr Premium Member almost 5 years ago
… and the John Birch Society, the “Heart of Darkness” of the TEA Party, believes Dwight was a communist.
https://www.thenation.com/article/growing-john-birch-society/
ChristopherBurns almost 5 years ago
The downfall of our country will be the “fill in the blank” Industrial Complex. Eisenhower coined the term with “Military” Industrial Complex to point out how the alliance of business and the military would siphon off resources that Americans need to line the pockets of capitalists. It’s a no lose proposition, all business needs to do is call anyone who complains weak and traitorous while ginning up a new nebulous threat – communism, radical Islam, the Chinese.
Ask yourself this: ISSIS or Al Queda never fielded more than a division or two of actual troops. They had no airforce, no navy, not even tanks. Why do we need a new carrier task force to fight that?
You can extend that to Health Care. Why do we spend more than everyone else? Because the Health Care industry has figured out how to squeeze every last drop of profit from Americans. It’s simple. Most Americans don’t pay the doctor, their insurance does. Most Americans don’t directly pay for their insurance, their employer does (which is actually a form of salary, but most don’t see it that way). When the hospital sends the bill, it’s to your insurance company. Then they raise premiums and so on.
It’s the American way. It’s the ultimate Ponzi Scheme.
Radish the wordsmith almost 5 years ago
Republicans are killing all social programs, education and health care to give the tax dollars to arms makers and billionaires.
cindysworld almost 5 years ago
Thank you again Brian. I have recently been despairing over the odd view Americans have of spending tax money. Taxes are gathered from the masses yet when proposals are made to fund infrastructure, education, health care, etc. cries of “Communism” and “Socialism” abound— as if funding programs to help taxpayers themselves is evil. Why can’t we simply regard funding anything other than the military as making us a stronger country? Thank you for writing in support of my thoughts!
Gigs almost 5 years ago
Dear Mr. Carroll, Hallelujah!!! As you’ve reminded us, Eisenhower warned us. And NO politicians on either side will ask the question “How much defense is enough?” Karl Hess put this question out there in the 70/80s – and answered it. KISS principle of course. 200,000 rapid deployment force – and the 4 to 5 times that number for support and logistics. Disband all the separate services with their asinine, duplicate and expensive bureaucracies (not to mention all the entitlements resulting from). Melt down all the ships and unneeded airplanes. Keep 20 nuclear powered and nuclear armed subs in the oceans at all times (and be prepared to use them, period – i.e. Kabul or Riyad following 9/11). If anyone attempted a landed invasion of the US and its territories, thanks to the 2nd amendment, they would face guerilla warfare the likes of which, the World has never seen. Money saved? Roads, health, education – and all the other investments in our future. Not to mention, wiping out the deficit. Remember, defense spending has little trickle down benefits to the economy, like private sector spending as so much of it ends up parked in a warehouse. Lets go to the stars instead of killing each other. (and if we stay out of other countries’ affairs, we’ll accumulate less hatred and retaliation). Too simple? That’s the point.
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member almost 5 years ago
“We have nothing to fear but fear itself.” FDR
But, but, but fear sells weapons! And … and … and jobs! Jobs, people!
(and kickbacks to congress critters!)
Great work, Brian! Thanks!
Out of curiosity, I wanted to know how much a hospital would cost today. An answer on Quora from 2017 helps.
The University of Texas Southwestern hospital is over 1.3 million square feet and has 532 beds. It cost $800 million. Parkland Memorial, Dallas County’s public hospital, is about 2 million square feet and has 862 beds. It cost $1.3 billion.
Cost of a B-2, about $2.1 billion. So Ike is still right.
Baslim the Beggar Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Cost of a new Zumwalt destroyer, $4.2 billion.
Cost of single family house $300,000 (I think this excludes land). 2000 of those for 2000 families of 4 would be$600 million. So new destroyers are even more expensive than in Ike’s time, plus we builld fewer of them.
https://www.fixr.com/costs/build-apartment
Masterskrain Premium Member almost 5 years ago
Imagine the progress in things like high-speed rail, efficient Power Plants, better roads and infrastructure, and the like if some of the Defense contractors like Boeing, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and the like, put as much money and effort into projects to HELP PEOPLE rather then projects to find better ways to KILL THEM!!!!
Andrew Sleeth almost 5 years ago
" … we have seen in a pitiful few months the Eisenhower mind crumble into uncertainty, retire into generalities, fumble with friendships and juggle alliances. At the same time Stevenson has moved serenely on, clarifying his position, holding to his line and never being drawn nor driven from his nongeneralized ideals. … Eisenhower seems like a punch-drunk fighter who comes out of his corner on wavery legs and throws his first punch at the referee." — John Steinbeck, essay on Adlai Stevenson, 1956
Kip W almost 5 years ago
“A rising tide lifts all boats.” Well, there’s your problem! The GOP sees that as a bug, not a feature. They want their boat to be lifted and all others to be sunk. It’s no fun if nobody loses.
snappyboy almost 5 years ago
Enough about the brass knuckles already! The military industrial complex just made another sale with the “loss” of the drone the other day. How many veterans could be served with that money? How many teachers could be paid a respectable salary? How many children could be fed a meal during the school day? How much of the crumbling infrastructure built during the Eisenhower administration could be rebuilt? When will we finally learn a lesson?
john almost 5 years ago
My all-time favorite war story concerns the US Marine reaction to a WWII US Army training film on using a bayonet in combat. When the narrator pointed out that a bayonet that became stuck in an enemy body might be freed by firing the rifle on which the bayonet was mounted, the Marines broke out in nearly uncontrollable laughter: “If yer piece ‘ud fire, why in h*ll’d ya let the f*cker git close enuff to stick ’im?”
DonLee2 almost 5 years ago
I see the USS Pedant-erprise Battle Group is making full speed to wherever it’s going
kipeticolas almost 5 years ago
Why are all the comments about weaponry when the statements from Ike are about what all the weaponry steals from us???????
PoodleGroomer almost 5 years ago
It’s not real money; The Social Security and Medicare trust funds were just sitting there and doing nothing.