How come no one talks about cutting military spending to reduce the deficit?

[JamesA1102]

We spend an obsene amount on the military compared to other countries.



This chart is a few years old but it shows that we spend more than the next 15 countries combined. This year the defense budget is going to top $700 Billion and that is just for ONE year. The conservatives are bitching about the cost of healthcare being almost a tillion over 10 years. This is the reason we have massive deficits. We could cut the military budget by 2/3rds and use that money to give free healthcare to every american, rebuild our infrastructure and pay down the debt while still spening twice as much on the military than Russia and China combined.

Why is no one from the right or the left talking about this?

[SunsetDreams]

1. It's kind of hard to fathom that right now,

since we are currently involved in two wars. Until those end, it would be a mistake to cut military spending. Our men and women fighting on the ground deserve our support, no matter whether we agree with the wars or not. We can't leave them hanging.

[JamesA1102]

2. The chart doesn't include the costs of the wars. nt

[SunsetDreams]

8. it doesn't say it doesn't.

I still stand by my statement, even if it does not.

[thunder rising]

12. Your concern is noted. I've seen your postings elsewhere too. Very concerned are you?

[SunsetDreams]

15. ...

:eyes:

Do run along now. That had to be the most stupid response I've ever had someone text to me on here.

[JamesA1102]

30. The chart is from 2007

before the costs of the wars were included in the overall military budget. That is a well known fact that those costs weren't included until President Obama changed that policy last year.

[SunsetDreams]

31. okay thank you, I wasn't aware of that James.

[Arctic Dave]

4. I believe if we shaved a few billion of the budget they could still manage.

Using them isn't a shield to hide behind as the MIC pillages the national treasury is lame.

[Vincardog]

6. Sending and keeping our military in pointless occupations is not supporting them.

[SunsetDreams]

13. Personally,

I think Iraq was pointless.

Afghanistan on the other hand, I'm not so sure.

Not having an exit strategy, and reducing the military budget, would not only be NOT supporting them, it would be military suicide.
Sorry as much as I would like to see my brother home, I will not stand for our country asking him to go and fight, and then crippling his ablity to do so.

[Vincardog]

17. Your brother has not been asked to go fight. He has been asked to go occupy foreign lands for

Corporate profit.

[SunsetDreams]

20. We have a difference of opinion here,

my brother is in Afghanistan. If it were Iraq, I might agree with you.

Correction: I would agree with you.

[Vincardog]

34. The occupation of Afghanistan is about the pipeline. Check out the bases and the pipeline route.

I am not saying anything about your brother. I am speaking the truth about your brother's CIC.

[krabigirl]

28. well, since both wars are to secure oil for us, I guess he'll be there forever :(

[krabigirl]

27. yes, which is why we need to end those two wars, asap

[johnaries]

3. Actually, Obama has already made cuts, including scrapping

the F-22 project and the new Marine One fleet.

[DrToast]

5. He's cut programs, but he still increased spending.

[cutlassmama]

10. Yes he did, you're right. He should bring the military home, have them

help with Haiti, Katrina devastation, and protect our borders instead of going over there to fight for oil.

[Blue Owl]

11. Two steps right

One step left.

Where will that ultimately get us?

[FormerDittoHead]

18. While the overall budget rises. Your "cuts" are noted.

http://washingtonindependent.com/30552/obama-gates-agree-on-defense-budget-increase

Remember earlier this month, when the White House’s Office of Management and Budget told the Pentagon to cap its forthcoming fiscal 2010 budget at $527 billion, excluding the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars — an increase from the $513 billion appropriated in the final year of the Bush administration? But because the figure was lower than a $584 billion Bush-era Pentagon wishlist for fiscal 2010, people started portraying the increase as a cut? Well, Josh Rogin at Congressional Quarterly reports (behind a firewall, alas) that OMB and the Pentagon have agreed to an even greater increase: $537 billion for the coming fiscal year.

Why do I think that if kept the military budget flat, and spent the $537-$513 = $24 billion on say, education, we wouldn't be able to 'afford' it?

on edit: last line.

[zipplewrath]

7. Stimulus

The defense industry is a huge source of upper middle class jobs. They are very adept at spreading these jobs around the congressional districts such that cutting funding is cutting jobs across much of congress. Look at what they have to do to close a military base. Congress likes military defense programs because they are a social program for semi-educated professionals.

[NoNothing]

9. It's not enough

Even if you cut the defense budget in half, that would barely be enough to pay the <i>interest</i> on the debt, forget about decreasing it.

[bigwillq]

14. They can't or we'll look weak.

Or something like that.

[dionysus]

36. unfortunately with these political games, it really would have negative consequences.

and that really sucks.

[dbonds]

16. Because the military suppliers are the ones really pulling the strings.

At least one set of the strings, financial institutions are pulling the other set.

[wuvuj]

22. Pull both strings together...

..and you spell fascism.

[indepat]

19. 'cause military spending/welfare for the military industrial complex is

sacrosanct. See, that was easy. :P

[tledford]

21. Because millions of Americans are happy for the government to spend ...

...unlimited amounts of money to kill innocent people, as long as they're brown or black.

[n2doc]

25. +1 Ain't that the truth. n/t

[krabigirl]

29. Yep.

[Raster]

23. The US is now a war-based economy. We are the number one producer of weapons in the world.

Warfare IS the United States number one industry. The US exists to serve the Pentagon and it's war machine, not the other way around.

[Gregorian]

24. I do.

I'm pretty sure Kucinich has. Maybe not. But I sure wouldn't be surprised if he has.

There's just one problem with that idea. If our economy depends upon military jobs, then...

[krabigirl]

26. because people are brainwashed. It's sick.

[Nothing Without Hope]

32. I think the answer is no longer just "profits," but also fear of those who

have entrenched their power and influence from these profits. The corruption has gone so far, real opposition has become increasingly dangerous. And of course, the media and government are controlled by corporatists too.

[L0oniX]

33. We have to pay for / support the troops don't we?

[ShortnFiery]

35. Because OUR weapons are so darn pretty and OUR missions overseas always righteous?

[harun]

37. Our system is still set up like we are in the Cold War era.

[Overseas]

38. Fear of the power of the Military Industrial Complex.

Why did our Democratic legislators push aside the desperate need for a strong public option to curb the cruel privatized health insurance industry? Fear of the Medical Industrial Complex.

And the Supreme Court's ruling of yesterday, if left unchecked, will add fear of the Political Industrial Complex to that mix.