Shut down the military.

[Arkady]

Our country is so hyper militarized that it is the one thing that both parties continue to agree on this time of great polarization. The result is that we spend five times as much as the next highest spending country on the military. And, in the present crisis, the military is the one group of government workers where even nonessential workers have a guaranteed paycheck -- a special exception that passed unanimously by both parties. This just doesn't make sense. Our military is so overfunded relative to other leading nations, that it is the one place where you can shut down lots of spending without serious negative consequences for the country.

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/02/shut_down_the_military_too_why_exempting_it_is_absurdly_unfair/

 

[as seen on tv]

thanks for regurgitating my post of monday. no need to pay royalities. imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, LOL

 

[Arkady]

thanks for regurgitating my post of monday. no need to pay royalities. imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, LOL

I didn't see it. Anyway, if you haven't read the link I provided, do so. It makes a great argument about the dangers of this kind of special treatment for the military.

To be fair, the military is in an unusual position, in that they are not legally entitled to leave their job. Therefore, I would allow ongoing payments of any military personnel who are active duty, and who would be awol if they were to stop working because they stop being paid. But, I would have furloughs of nonessential workers, and no special provisions for reserve, military contractors, etc. They'd be treated just like the equivalent in the nonmilitary.

 

[RickWA]

I didn't see it.

Well, in any case I agree with you (and ASOT).

 

[Colorforms]

Our country is so hyper militarized that it is the one thing that both parties continue to agree on this time of great polarization. The result is that we spend five times as much as the next highest spending country on the military. And, in the present crisis, the military is the one group of government workers where even nonessential workers have a guaranteed paycheck -- a special exception that passed unanimously by both parties. This just doesn't make sense. Our military is so overfunded relative to other leading nations, that it is the one place where you can shut down lots of spending without serious negative consequences for the country.

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/02/shut_down_the_military_too_why_exempting_it_is_absurdly_unfair/

If you're armed with a knife, you're more likely to attack someone wielding another knife, than someone with a pair of 45's leveled at you. Having a strong military is the best way to maintain peace.

 

[as seen on tv]

I didn't see it. Anyway, if you haven't read the link I provided, do so. It makes a great argument about the dangers of this kind of special treatment for the military.

To be fair, the military is in an unusual position, in that they are not legally entitled to leave their job. Therefore, I would allow ongoing payments of any military personnel who are active duty, and who would be awol if they were to stop working because they stop being paid. But, I would have furloughs of nonessential workers, and no special provisions for reserve, military contractors, etc. They'd be treated just like the equivalent in the nonmilitary.

yeah - you stalk me on every other top post, but missed that one, LOL. well, i suppose it could happen.

my premise was that if the house was using "public opinion" (skepticism about obamacare) as the justification for the defunding effort linked to the shutdown, it would be equally plausible to suspend funding for our several middle east wars.

i think what we have here is the typical impulse of those on the left to ignore posts by moderates which they might agree with, and instead unleash broadside rants at the ones which they disagree with.

this is called selective listening/reading - and is a leading cause of polarization.

see gordon geckos endless rants if you need clarification on this point

 

[Arkady]

If you're armed with a knife, you're more likely to attack someone wielding another knife, than someone with a pair of 45's leveled at you. Having a strong military is the best way to maintain peace.

I'm all for having a strong military. But we could cut our military spending by 2/3 and still outspend every other nation by a huge margin (not even to consider our network of alliances with nearly every other major military, which is something none of our likely adversaries have -- they're all isolated from any significant support). At what point is it enough? In the Reagan years we spent approximately the same as the next-closest country, relying on our superior alliances and our nuclear deterrent to keep the peace. Why do we now have to spend five times as much as anyone else? Why wouldn't, say, spending twice as much as China be sufficient?

 

[Arkady]

yeah - you stalk me on every other top post, but missed that one, LOL. well, i suppose it could happen.

my premise was that if the house was using "public opinion" (skepticism about obamacare) as the justification for the defunding effort linked to the shutdown, it would be equally plausible to suspend funding for our several middle east wars.

i think what we have here is the typical impulse of those on the left to ignore posts by moderates which they might agree with, and instead unleash broadside rants at the ones which they disagree with.

this is called selective listening/reading - and is a leading cause of polarization.

see gordon geckos endless rants if you need clarification on this point

I regularly exchange posts of agreement with conservatives on a number of issues.

 

[Zoar]

If you're armed with a knife, you're more likely to attack someone wielding another knife, than someone with a pair of 45's leveled at you. Having a strong military is the best way to maintain peace.

Why are Righties SO bad with analogies??? This one is horrible. These Knife - Gun analogies compared to a BLOATED 800BILLION to 1 TRILLION a year spending budget for Military and Military RELATED spending is just stupid.

 

[Colorforms]

Why are Righties SO bad with analogies??? This one is horrible. These Knife - Gun analogies compared to a BLOATED 800BILLION to 1 TRILLION a year spending budget for Military and Military RELATED spending is just stupid.

Got a better one? I am all ears.

 

[Figjam]

Our country is so hyper militarized that it is the one thing that both parties continue to agree on this time of great polarization. The result is that we spend five times as much as the next highest spending country on the military. And, in the present crisis, the military is the one group of government workers where even nonessential workers have a guaranteed paycheck -- a special exception that passed unanimously by both parties. This just doesn't make sense. Our military is so overfunded relative to other leading nations, that it is the one place where you can shut down lots of spending without serious negative consequences for the country.

http://www.salon.com/2013/10/02/shut_down_the_military_too_why_exempting_it_is_absurdly_unfair/

...well, this is not entirely correct. There are a lot of civilian "support" staff, including technicians who maintain military aircraft, etc., that have been furloughed.

...regardless, this is something that is completely unnecessary.

...I do agree however the military could be cut. by half at least. We are NOT the world cop.

 

[GordonGecko]

If you're armed with a knife, you're more likely to attack someone wielding another knife, than someone with a pair of 45's leveled at you. Having a strong military is the best way to maintain peace.

Really??? Because we had 1000s of nuclear weapons....and we were attacked by guys wielding boxcutters.

 

[GordonGecko]

yeah - you stalk me on every other top post, but missed that one, LOL. well, i suppose it could happen.

see gordon geckos endless rants if you need clarification on this point

She whines about being stalked....and then drags my name into a thread, I hadn't even commented on yet.

 

[Colorforms]

Really??? Because we had 1000s of nuclear weapons....and we were attacked by guys wielding boxcutters.

And we smacked them silly. At least we were before we started arming them.

 

[GordonGecko]

And we smacked them silly. At least we were before we started arming them.

How many nukes did we use, CF???

 

[Saladin2]

Too much waste and pork in Military spending...Too many useless bases and soldiers sitting on their ass collecting Tax payer money....Start shutting it down

 

[Colorforms]

How many nukes did we use, CF???

How many do you want to use? Do we have to use nukes?

You guys really are blood thirsty.

 

[GordonGecko]

How many do you want to use? Do we have to use nukes?

You guys really are blood thirsty.


It's YOUR "defense policy strategy", CF....not mine.

Or are you NOW saying you don't have to have the most powerful weapons in a "knife-fight"????

 

[Colorforms]

You guys really are blood thirsty.


It's YOUR "defense policy strategy", CF....not mine.

Or are you NOW saying you don't have to have the most powerful weapons in a "knife-fight"????

Right, I mentioned nukes. LOL.

 

[GordonGecko]

Right, I mentioned nukes. LOL.

You mentioned that having a more powerful weapon prevents people with less powerful weapons from attacking you.

Seems the 9/11 attackers with their boxcutters were NOT afraid of our megaton warheads.


"Mr. McKittrick, after very careful consideration, sir, I've come to the conclusion that your new defense system sucks"---General Berenger "War Games"