15 Facts About Military Spending That Will Blow Your Mind

Jason P
Jason P Posts: 19,436
edited August 2012 in A Moving Train
I used to be one of those people that defended not making any cuts to the military, but have sense realized that in order for the US to even come close to balancing the budget, drastic cuts are required. Any budget plan that preserves the current military expenditures and claims it can help balance the national budget is not realistic.

The link below is to 15 crazy statistic on US Military spending.

http://www.businessinsider.com/military-spending-budget-defense-cuts-2011-10#america-spends-more-on-its-military-than-the-next-15-countries-combined-1

Here are just a few samples:

* In 2007, the amount of money labeled 'wasted' or 'lost' in Iraq -- $11 billion -- could pay 220,000 teachers salaries

* Each day in Afghanistan costs the government more than it did to build the entire Pentagon

* The pentagon budget consumes 80% of individual income tax revenue

* The Pentagon spends more on war than all 50 states combined spend on health, education, welfare, and safety

At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. had 7% of their GDP going toward military while the USSR had 27%. Hey, whatever happened to the USSR???
Be Excellent To Each Other
Party On, Dudes!
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Comments

  • gimmesometruth27
    gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 25,078
    Jason P wrote:
    I used to be one of those people that defended not making any cuts to the military, but have sense realized that in order for the US to even come close to balancing the budget, drastic cuts are required. Any budget plan that preserves the current military expenditures and claims it can help balance the national budget is not realistic.

    The link below is to 15 crazy statistic on US Military spending.

    http://www.businessinsider.com/military-spending-budget-defense-cuts-2011-10#america-spends-more-on-its-military-than-the-next-15-countries-combined-1

    Here are just a few samples:

    * In 2007, the amount of money labeled 'wasted' or 'lost' in Iraq -- $11 billion -- could pay 220,000 teachers salaries

    * Each day in Afghanistan costs the government more than it did to build the entire Pentagon

    * The pentagon budget consumes 80% of individual income tax revenue

    * The Pentagon spends more on war than all 50 states combined spend on health, education, welfare, and safety

    At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. had 7% of their GDP going toward military while the USSR had 27%. Hey, whatever happened to the USSR???
    i agree JasonP. the romney ryan budget would increase military spending :o
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,218
    gimmesometruth27 wrote:
    Jason P wrote:
    I used to be one of those people that defended not making any cuts to the military, but have sense realized that in order for the US to even come close to balancing the budget, drastic cuts are required. Any budget plan that preserves the current military expenditures and claims it can help balance the national budget is not realistic.

    The link below is to 15 crazy statistic on US Military spending.

    http://www.businessinsider.com/military-spending-budget-defense-cuts-2011-10#america-spends-more-on-its-military-than-the-next-15-countries-combined-1

    Here are just a few samples:

    * In 2007, the amount of money labeled 'wasted' or 'lost' in Iraq -- $11 billion -- could pay 220,000 teachers salaries

    * Each day in Afghanistan costs the government more than it did to build the entire Pentagon

    * The pentagon budget consumes 80% of individual income tax revenue

    * The Pentagon spends more on war than all 50 states combined spend on health, education, welfare, and safety

    At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. had 7% of their GDP going toward military while the USSR had 27%. Hey, whatever happened to the USSR???
    i agree JasonP. the romney ryan budget would increase military spending :o

    Why not keep the trend I guess? :fp:

    I have a lot of family in the military and for awhile they would defend military spending til their graves. Not so much anymore. I read a few articles a few years back that basically made me think that it was a clusterfuck of tons of cash going to private contractors "rebuilding Iraq," when it was really just flushing money down the toilet. How did this shit get approved? Oh yeah... :crazy:
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • gimmesometruth27
    gimmesometruth27 St. Fuckin Louis Posts: 25,078
    JonnyPistachio wrote:
    Why not keep the trend I guess? :fp:

    I have a lot of family in the military and for awhile they would defend military spending til their graves. Not so much anymore. I read a few articles a few years back that basically made me think that it was a clusterfuck of tons of cash going to private contractors "rebuilding Iraq," when it was really just flushing money down the toilet. How did this shit get approved? Oh yeah... :crazy:
    i have family that work for a defense company and they are scared shitless that obama would cut the military budget.

    you can not increase the military budget and have a balanced budget. you just can't do it.
    "You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry."  - Lincoln

    "Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
  • ComeToTX
    ComeToTX Austin Posts: 8,114
    The first one says it all: America spends more on its military than THE NEXT 15 COUNTRIES COMBINED

    Why are we so paranoid?
    This show, another show, a show here and a show there.
  • EZ1221C
    EZ1221C Posts: 2,645
    ComeToTX wrote:
    The first one says it all: America spends more on its military than THE NEXT 15 COUNTRIES COMBINED

    Why are we so paranoid?
    Peace through strength. woot woot.
    PLAY THE SOUTH
  • polaris_x
    polaris_x Posts: 13,559
    it's called the military industrial complex ... those of us on the "left" have been trying to point it out for a while now ... better late than never i guess ... ;)
  • ComeToTX
    ComeToTX Austin Posts: 8,114
    EZ1221C wrote:
    ComeToTX wrote:
    The first one says it all: America spends more on its military than THE NEXT 15 COUNTRIES COMBINED

    Why are we so paranoid?
    Peace through strength. woot woot.

    Peace (except multiple, pointless wars) through strength. Got it.

    Got it, flaunt it. Seems to be our M.O.
    This show, another show, a show here and a show there.
  • EZ1221C
    EZ1221C Posts: 2,645
    ComeToTX wrote:
    EZ1221C wrote:
    ComeToTX wrote:
    The first one says it all: America spends more on its military than THE NEXT 15 COUNTRIES COMBINED

    Why are we so paranoid?
    Peace through strength. woot woot.

    Peace (except multiple, pointless wars) through strength. Got it.

    Got it, flaunt it. Seems to be our M.O.
    I was being highly sarcastic. I am heavily in favor of cutting the bloated military budget.
    PLAY THE SOUTH
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,436
    polaris_x wrote:
    it's called the military industrial complex ... those of us on the "left" have been trying to point it out for a while now ... better late than never i guess ... ;)
    Don't get me wrong, we still need to bomb people. We just need to find more efficient and cost effective ways of doing it. :geek:
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • riotgrl
    riotgrl LOUISVILLE Posts: 1,895
    polaris_x wrote:
    it's called the military industrial complex ... those of us on the "left" have been trying to point it out for a while now ... better late than never i guess ... ;)


    And what a twisted, sordid mess that is. I wonder if we (the collective we, that is) understood all the profiteering that comes from being a part of this complex, if we might not just start demanding a real change. Not just a reduced military budget but a true overhaul.
    Are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

    Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned...

    I AM MINE
  • Zoso
    Zoso Posts: 6,425
    Jason P wrote:
    I used to be one of those people that defended not making any cuts to the military, but have sense realized that in order for the US to even come close to balancing the budget, drastic cuts are required. Any budget plan that preserves the current military expenditures and claims it can help balance the national budget is not realistic.

    The link below is to 15 crazy statistic on US Military spending.

    http://www.businessinsider.com/military-spending-budget-defense-cuts-2011-10#america-spends-more-on-its-military-than-the-next-15-countries-combined-1

    Here are just a few samples:

    * In 2007, the amount of money labeled 'wasted' or 'lost' in Iraq -- $11 billion -- could pay 220,000 teachers salaries

    * Each day in Afghanistan costs the government more than it did to build the entire Pentagon

    * The pentagon budget consumes 80% of individual income tax revenue

    * The Pentagon spends more on war than all 50 states combined spend on health, education, welfare, and safety

    At the height of the Cold War, the U.S. had 7% of their GDP going toward military while the USSR had 27%. Hey, whatever happened to the USSR???

    this is pretty crazy but not surprising. Another reason that we shouldn't be voting for Romney.
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  • polaris_x
    polaris_x Posts: 13,559
    Jason P wrote:
    Don't get me wrong, we still need to bomb people. We just need to find more efficient and cost effective ways of doing it. :geek:

    that isn't the goal of the mic ... that's the goal of other corporations ... the goal of the mic is to make sure that arms sales are high at all times ... and efficiency is not profitable ... ;)
  • norm
    norm Posts: 31,146
    i call bullshit on this...it's not the pentagon budget that is bankrupting this country but PBS

    :|
  • Jason P
    Jason P Posts: 19,436
    polaris_x wrote:
    Jason P wrote:
    Don't get me wrong, we still need to bomb people. We just need to find more efficient and cost effective ways of doing it. :geek:

    that isn't the goal of the mic ... that's the goal of other corporations ... the goal of the mic is to make sure that arms sales are high at all times ... and efficiency is not profitable ... ;)
    But it is more efficient to promote unrest in regions without actually engaging and sell both sides weapons. We just need to find an unstable region first ... where to look, where to look? :think:
    Be Excellent To Each Other
    Party On, Dudes!
  • polaris_x
    polaris_x Posts: 13,559
    riotgrl wrote:
    And what a twisted, sordid mess that is. I wonder if we (the collective we, that is) understood all the profiteering that comes from being a part of this complex, if we might not just start demanding a real change. Not just a reduced military budget but a true overhaul.

    that complex basically plays itself into all aspects of gov't now ... corporate profiteering is the primary function of gov't right now ...

    there is no solution but revolution
  • Kel Varnsen
    Kel Varnsen Posts: 1,952
    ComeToTX wrote:
    The first one says it all: America spends more on its military than THE NEXT 15 COUNTRIES COMBINED

    Why are we so paranoid?

    I often wonder what would happen if say the US only spent as much money as say the next 12 countries combined? Would they still have better equipment then any other country in the world? Would it open them up to actual legitimate threats?
  • JonnyPistachio
    JonnyPistachio Florida Posts: 10,218
    Kel Varnsen wrote:
    ComeToTX wrote:
    The first one says it all: America spends more on its military than THE NEXT 15 COUNTRIES COMBINED

    Why are we so paranoid?

    I often wonder what would happen if say the US only spent as much money as say the next 12 countries combined? Would they still have better equipment then any other country in the world? Would it open them up to actual legitimate threats?

    You wouldnt have a secret spy drone flying over your house right now ready to bomb a wedding in Sri Lanka! ;)
    Pick up my debut novel here on amazon: Jonny Bails Floatin (in paperback) (also available on Kindle for $2.99)
  • Johnny Abruzzo
    Johnny Abruzzo Philly Posts: 12,622
    norm wrote:
    i call bullshit on this...it's not the pentagon budget that is bankrupting this country but PBS

    :|

    It's these... characters!

    dino-family-dinosaur-train-8813639-250-333.jpg
    Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; Phila, PA 10/21/13; Phila,  PA 10/22/13; Baltimore Arena 10/27/13; Phila, PA 4/28/16; Phila, PA 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; Phila, PA 9/7/24; Phila, PA 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24; Pittsburgh 5/16/25; Pittsburgh 5/18/25

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  • riotgrl
    riotgrl LOUISVILLE Posts: 1,895
    polaris_x wrote:
    riotgrl wrote:
    And what a twisted, sordid mess that is. I wonder if we (the collective we, that is) understood all the profiteering that comes from being a part of this complex, if we might not just start demanding a real change. Not just a reduced military budget but a true overhaul.

    that complex basically plays itself into all aspects of gov't now ... corporate profiteering is the primary function of gov't right now ...

    there is no solution but revolution

    Revolution is not something I throw around lightly (and I'm not saying you are) but I do wonder if that is going to be the end solution. Or, more likely, we will go the way of other great "empires" and self-destruct or become a third rate player again.
    Are we getting something out of this all-encompassing trip?

    Seems my preconceptions are what should have been burned...

    I AM MINE
  • polaris_x
    polaris_x Posts: 13,559
    riotgrl wrote:
    Revolution is not something I throw around lightly (and I'm not saying you are) but I do wonder if that is going to be the end solution. Or, more likely, we will go the way of other great "empires" and self-destruct or become a third rate player again.

    the US is not the empire ... that would indicate that americans are benefiting from this behaviour ... this is not the case in the US ... i don't see a revolution ever happening ... as long as people still continue to play this red/blue liberal/conservative democrat/republican game - they will forever be pawns of the corporate agenda ...

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