Why doesn't the US....

[Swedish Viking]

dramatically reduce its military spending?  

[mass243]

Very good question.

[Jadeveon Clowney]

Can't let the Chinois and the Rooskies get too big for their britches.  Besides it's good for our technological advancement.

[The True Adonis]

dramatically reduce its military spending?  

This should help.

[HTexan]

dramatically reduce its military spending?  

Cus are allies depend on the USA military.

[mass243]

Cus are allies depend on the USA military.

Hahhaa, should you maybe consider better who to ally with 

[Deicide]

Vested interests.

[Howard]

dramatically reduce its military spending?  

I agree , great question .I love my country and served in the marines but I am still clueless about why we have so many international bases.

Pres. Eisenhower was also the  General in charge of the famous D day invasion in WWII.
In 1960, he gave a now famous address from the oval office in his last days as President in 1960.
In the speech he gave a strict warning ; " ...beware of the growth of the millitary industrial complex."

He went on to say that wars could be so profitable that they might become a major source of economic growth for various multi- national defense corperations. I am not much of a conspiracy buff, but if anyone knew about millitary spending and war planning it was a 2 term president and leader of the D day invasion.
His speech on this is public record and I believe is on U tube.
There is also a documentary film on this called
" Why We Fight"

[The True Adonis]

I agree , great question .I love my country and served in the marines but I am still clueless about why we have so many international bases.

Pres. Eisenhower was also the  General in charge of the famous D day invasion in WWII.
In 1960, he gave a now famous address from the oval office in his last days as President in 1960.
In the speech he gave a strict warning ; " ...beware of the growth of the millitary industrial complex."

He went on to say that wars could be so profitable that they might become a major source of economic growth for various multi- national defense corperations. I am not much of a conspiracy buff, but if anyone knew about millitary spending and war planning it was a 2 term president and leader of the D day invasion.
His speech on this is public record and I believe is on U tube.
There is also a documentary film on this called
" Why We Fight"

Scroll up my friend.  I already posted it.

[mass243]

USA is also heavily run by military. Maybe second only to North Korea ?

When military gets too much power with different close-to-military organizations like intelligence service, this is how it ends up looking; whole country is run by terms of war. Not good for democracy or the economy at the end as we can see in this case.

Same with NK; their people is starving because of huge military spending. Difference is that NK can't loan from international creditors - if US couldn't either, it would be in same situation where people are eating grass to stay alive.

Not good or sustainable way.

(note: I don't want bash anyone here but just give my sophisticated view on subject)

[Jadeveon Clowney]

 


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita

Where's Russia and Finland on that list?  Maybe the Russian you're kneeling in front of is blocking your view of reality.

USA is also heavily run by military. Maybe second only to North Korea ?

When military gets too much power with different close-to-military organizations like intelligence service, this is how it ends up looking; whole country is run by terms of war. Not good for democracy or the economy at the end as we can see in this case.

Same with NK; their people is starving because of huge military spending. Difference is that NK can't loan from international creditors - if US couldn't either, it would be in same situation where people are eating grass to stay alive.

Not good or sustainable way.

[Roger Bacon]

dramatically reduce its military spending?  

King of the mountain can only go down, it's expensive to maintain our place in the world. 

[mass243]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita

Where's Russia and Finland on that list?  Maybe the Russian you're kneeling in front of is blocking your view of reality.

This is not about comparisons. Everybody knows USA is world's biggest economy for now... but declining because of bad policies.

Finland is officially world's best country so please let's not even get in that. OK?

[Swedish Viking]

Ok, some good answers here.  But my question is more, why is the US still spending so much on the military.  The comment about safeguarding allies(maybe Israel) made a lot of sense,  I could see what. But with the situation as it is, does it really make sense the the largest portion of the budget pie chart goes to defending ourselves against invaders?  Can't we spend less than a third of that just on creating good international relationships with other countries?  Are we maybe protecting our oil resources?  Why not just cut dramatically, take the hit, and spend money and getting this country whole again?  Get out of the middle east, start using our supposed 100yrs of natural gas, along with US oil reserves and just do what the whole world wants us to do-get out of their faces and do primarily our own thing.

[Jadeveon Clowney]

This is not about comparisons. Everybody knows USA is world's biggest economy for now... but declining because of bad policies.

Finland is officially world's best country so please let's not even get in that. OK?

It's a per capita comparison.    Maybe the "officially world's best country" education system does not teach the meaning of terms like that?  If we're declining, what's happening with the rest of the world? 

[Howard]

Scroll up my friend.  I already posted it.

Some of the attachments and pics are blank on this network.  Oh well, great minds think alike.

[mass243]

It's a per capita comparison.    Maybe the "officially world's best country" education system does not teach the meaning of terms like that?  If we're declining, what's happening with the rest of the world? 

Well... China is raising and going to overtake US in relatively near future. So are other so-called developing countries.

Russia is also raising... and if you know any history, you know it's just 20 years old in it's current form... and maybe you know Russian federation already is one of the biggest creditors of USA and China is the biggest so practically you live on their money - better pay some respect, boy   

[Jadeveon Clowney]

Well... China is raising and going to overtake US in relatively near future. So are other so-called developing countries.

Russia is also raising... and if you know any history, you know it's just 20 years old in it's current form... and maybe you know Russian federation already is one of the biggest creditors of USA and China is the biggest so practically you live on their money - better pay some respect, boy   

Lol, good luck to them collecting.  We'll see how long before the wheels come off the Chinese dragon. 

BTW, do the Russians get angry when you take time away from "serving" them to post on getbig?

[mass243]

Lol, good luck to them collecting.  We'll see how long before the wheels come off the Chinese dragon.  

BTW, do the Russians get angry when you take time away from "serving" them to post on getbig?

You must be delusional or very uneducated. It is common estimate that China tops USA as the world's largest economy relatively soon.
They already are on no 2 spot.  

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/chinas-gdp-overtake-us-early
http://www.cnbc.com/id/41775174/US_Will_Be_the_World_s_Third_Largest_Economy_Citi

I don't serve Russians LOL,  you funny.............. not.
I just like superpowers and Russia is the one I find the coolest. Many all over the world think the same of US. No reason to hate  

[#1 Klaus fan]

United States is like a super power without the balls.

[Grape Ape]

Ok, some good answers here.  But my question is more, why is the US still spending so much on the military.  The comment about safeguarding allies(maybe Israel) made a lot of sense,  I could see what. But with the situation as it is, does it really make sense the the largest portion of the budget pie chart goes to defending ourselves against invaders?  Can't we spend less than a third of that just on creating good international relationships with other countries?  Are we maybe protecting our oil resources?  Why not just cut dramatically, take the hit, and spend money and getting this country whole again?  Get out of the middle east, start using our supposed 100yrs of natural gas, along with US oil reserves and just do what the whole world wants us to do-get out of their faces and do primarily our own thing.

Because, even if we do, they will continue to try to get in ours.

[Hulkotron]

Someone's gotta keep those fucking Mexicans in line.

[thelamefalsehood]

Ok, some good answers here.  But my question is more, why is the US still spending so much on the military.  The comment about safeguarding allies(maybe Israel) made a lot of sense,  I could see what. But with the situation as it is, does it really make sense the the largest portion of the budget pie chart goes to defending ourselves against invaders?  Can't we spend less than a third of that just on creating good international relationships with other countries?  Are we maybe protecting our oil resources?  Why not just cut dramatically, take the hit, and spend money and getting this country whole again?  Get out of the middle east, start using our supposed 100yrs of natural gas, along with US oil reserves and just do what the whole world wants us to do-get out of their faces and do primarily our own thing.

I think it goes back to being a kid. The biggest, meanest, toughest kid on the block ran shit. If he wanted your milk money, he just took it. Politicians and military people can say its to stabilize world peace, which is probably kind of true. But at the end of the day, its all about who is the baddest SOB on a world scale, and that would be us. Being a true superpower and military power go hand in hand.

[MCWAY]

Ok, some good answers here.  But my question is more, why is the US still spending so much on the military.  The comment about safeguarding allies(maybe Israel) made a lot of sense,  I could see what. But with the situation as it is, does it really make sense the the largest portion of the budget pie chart goes to defending ourselves against invaders?  Can't we spend less than a third of that just on creating good international relationships with other countries?  Are we maybe protecting our oil resources?  Why not just cut dramatically, take the hit, and spend money and getting this country whole again?  Get out of the middle east, start using our supposed 100yrs of natural gas, along with US oil reserves and just do what the whole world wants us to do-get out of their faces and do primarily our own thing.

The largest part of the American budget DOES NOT go to the military; it goes to entitlement programs.

[Swedish Viking]

The largest part of the American budget DOES NOT go to the military; it goes to entitlement programs.

Just checked that, you're right, but dept of defense is less than 1% behind social security-which is the biggest piece of the pie.  All entitlement programs added together add up to more than dept of defense but only social security costs the American people more than defense on its own.