Politics

[DillonG]

They must have forgot about Jimmy Carter.

I never claimed that my history teachers weren’t flaming liberals.

 

[Red Leg]

View attachment 623160

Which means exactly what? If you invest $1000 and Elon Musk invests $1000 dollars is that the same thing? It is why defense spending goals of NATO allies are based upon percentage of GDP. I agree that NATO members should reach that goal, and thanks to Putin more do now than at any time since the end of the Cold War.

 

[Saul]

Who’s Afraid of Josh Shapiro?

The Pennsylvania governor called Benjamin Netanyahu “one of the worst leaders of all time.” But anti-Israel activists don’t want him on the Democratic ticket.

www.theatlantic.com

 

[wesheltonj]

The enemy of my enemy is my friend......We are obliged to fight amongst ourselves, but when you choose to join uninvited we will oblige ourselves to join together to defeat you.

Russia and China would want to occupy North America thus the threat of a nuclear strike from either is less likely for many reasons.

Then and now, probably more so now with all the technology advances, the biggest deterrent to a Russian or Chinese invasion is not so much the Amerixan military, but the well armed don't give a shit Billy Bob, Bubba, etc.backwoods, hillbillies, that often like to shoot any stranger first before asking any questions.

The biggest threat of a nuclear bomb being set off in the US would be from Iran or other anti American terrorist group and North Korea. Their mentality is to prove to the rest of the world how powerful they are. The aftermath of such an attack would be total unhinged American anger focused solely on the total enilation/ genocide of the country responsible.

When America's 2nd Civil War breaks out it will be genocidal. Pretty much white and black will start enilating All You Others, once the AYO's are totally eliminated, It'll be pick your side with the side going into battle firstest with the mostest, wins.
AYO's:
Politicians, former and present
Large, mega money Corporate leaders,
Anti's: hunting, guns, etc.
Animal Rights/ Greenies/ etc.
Illegal immigrants, you look "Hispanic" ancestry, you look Mid Eastern ancestry
Etc
Etc

While some in Russia might want to occupy the USA. I highly doubt most in power do. The same with China. They are all too busy skimming money and selling products making themselves rich. Without the US, there’s the money going on come from? Answer, nowhere else.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Which means exactly what? If you invest $1000 and Elon Musk invests $1000 dollars is that the same thing? It is why defense spending goals of NATO allies are based upon percentage of GDP. I agree that NATO members should reach that goal, and thanks to Putin more do now than at any time since the end of the Cold War.

Certainly a valid point General. But taking into account our debt load, I will be a bit of a thorn in your side here or pain in the a$$, however you see it, but at the same time acknowledge that our defense spending has been dropping and appears to be near the last low in 2001. But you know $50 billion here, a $100 billion there and sooner or later you're talking about real money. And please note that we spend roughly double the combined total that China and Russia do.

The United States Spends More on Defense than the Next 9 Countries Combined

Defense spending by the United States accounted for nearly 40 percent of military expenditures by countries around the world in 2023.

www.pgpf.org

Infographic: The Facts About U.S. Defense Spending

National security is both a vital priority and a significant part of the federal budget.

www.pgpf.org

 

[Red Leg]

Certainly a valid point General. But taking into account our debt load, I will be a bit of a thorn in your side here or pain in the a$$, however you see it, but at the same time acknowledge that our defense spending has been dropping and appears to be near the last low in 2001. But you know $50 billion here, a $100 billion there and sooner or later you're talking about real money. And please note that we spend roughly double the combined total that China and Russia do.

The United States Spends More on Defense than the Next 9 Countries Combined

Defense spending by the United States accounted for nearly 40 percent of military expenditures by countries around the world in 2023.

www.pgpf.org

Infographic: The Facts About U.S. Defense Spending

National security is both a vital priority and a significant part of the federal budget.

www.pgpf.org

I am not sure I get your point. It is still a function of comparative GDP. But yes, debt impacts whatever discretionary spending is left available for anything else.

 

[Ridge Runner]

While some in Russia might want to occupy the USA. I highly doubt most in power do. The same with China. They are all too busy skimming money and selling products making themselves rich. Without the US, there’s the money going on come from? Answer, nowhere else.

As a communist country the money comes from those mining, working farms, industry or what's left of it. The money is here for those in power to take. Those in power will pillage anything and everything they can wood, coal, iron, copper, gold silver, etc., etc.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I am not sure I get your point. It is still a function of comparative GDP. But yes, debt impacts whatever discretionary spending is left available for anything else.

Looking at it from a pure dollars point of view, disregarding how much of a percentage of GDP the spend may be. Do we really need to spend more than double that which China and Russia spends? If we "only" spent let's say $750 billion, would we really be hurting our defensive capabilities?

I don't really know the answer to that question nor will I even take a guess. But our newest provocateur, @glen matunas has a point in regards to our debt load. At some point that debt becomes a threat to national security too. Do we need to completely eliminate it? I don't think so, but it sure seems like reducing it from current levels would be wise.

Can that come from only reducing defense spending? I wouldn't think that wise either, but it would seem reasonable that it be part of the solution.

 

[Scott CWO]

I pay over $800 a month per employee on health care costs (I pay 100%, no employee contributions) plus on average over $10K a month overall payroll costs. I pay about $2,000/month per degreed engineer with minimum 5 years of experience overseas, you do the math.

I need a job in two years.