Why don't the Republicans just admit the military budget is just a jobs program?

[A HERETIC I AM]

I've been thinking about this for a while - If the President had put forward a MASSIVE increase in military spending which would have had the effect of military suppliers having to hire more people, the right wing would have been all for it.

The fact that what he proposed was simply a "jobs" program and not an increase in military spending means the repubs won't go for it on principal.

A few weeks ago I delivered a load of cars in Arlington, VA, just up the road from the Pentagon and National Airport (I REFUSE to call it "Reagan National") and where I delivered was basically hotel row. I'm not talking Super 8's and Days Inns, I'm talking all the high end properties - Radisson, Crown Plaza, Marriot, Hyatt Regency, Doubletree, etc. Now I suppose there may be some tourists who stay at these properties, but I am willing to bet their bread and butter is people there on business with the Pentagon.

So...that means that ALL those hotels make money from people who make money from the government.

Think of all the hundreds of thousands of people in this country who work for companies that do business with the military. It's mind boggling.

IF Obama had simply proposed a massive military spending spree - something NO Republican has ever refused - his jobs program would have passed already.

[daleanime]

1. Except...

we already spent far too much that way.:banghead:

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. I agree, don't get me wrong.

What I am saying is that the military budget is just that - a jobs program.

It is totally disingenuous for the right wing to suggest the government can't or doesn't create jobs. It does, in a massive way. It is just that when thi president wants to create jobs that will actually help the country, it is a fight.

[daleanime]

6. I know and hope I didn't come across as rude....

but thinking about what we're spending that money on now, then comparing that with what we could do for education, poverty, etc...


Well it kind of boils my blood.:grr:

[ThoughtCriminal]

3. The problem with military spending as stimulus

We get way less economic benefit from military spending than just about any other.

Part of that is because it is far more capital rather than labor intensive. Another reason is that it is dead-end spending: A bridge helps create commerce, a bomb either sits in an arsenal or explodes somewhere. And finally, there is just so little accountability and corruption in defense spending that much of it just goes to waste and to that same 1% at the top.

[bluerum]

4. Yup. Low wage mercenaries for the corporate job makers.

[Scuba]

5. Our military has been used, almost exclusively, to protect corporate interests. Makes sense.

[Blue Meany]

7. More like a welfare program for the military industry

A a jobs program, it is extremely inefficient. As a mechanism to transfer wealth to the wealthy, quite a bit more efficient. But it would be cheaper if just paid our taxes directly to them.

[Bake]

8. I was thinking of an ATM/cash register for defense contractors ...

:hi:

Bake