After WW2, Japan and Germany were not allowed to have a military...

[dysfunctional press]

and as such, did not have a huge portion of their budgets drained by military/defense spending.

after causing this type of worldwide financial debacle, the united states should be required to disband it's military in the same way, and that part of the budget used to fund this entire goddamn clusterfuck.

[Captain Hilts]

1. That would devistate entire regions and segments of the population.

The military is one of this country's largest welfare programs for individuals and cities.

[norepubsin08]

4. tough!!!

I ran an advisory initiative in 1989 in a military town in which we asked for a reduction of 10% of military spending to be applied to social services and deficit reduction. We were told we didn't have a chance in hell to get on the ballot, not only did we get on the ballot, but we won with 64% of the vote, the most of any candidate or initiative that year. This campaign was endorsed by the National Conference of Mayor's

Even back then, we were telling people to transition from a military to a production and service economy.

[YOY]

2. Like it or not they do provide a counterbalance.

I'd say slim the beast up. Most of the money we spend on Defense goes into the MIC's pocket. We don't need a new destroyer model to "fight terror". China and Russia are well behind us in technology.

[whistler162]

3. You miss one small.... tiny... miniscule.... elelment to that thesis...

The Allies where their main MILITARY for that period of their history. So which country, pray tell, should wwe look to as a military?

[norepubsin08]

5. Iceland or maybe Jamaica (they did well with the bobsled)