Well what is the new thing we are supposed to learn from this thread? We all know very well that US defense budget comprises the half of world wide defense Expenditures. Is there anything else that I missed?
It is pretty much expected, one good thing is they did not base their figures on China official figures. Just feeling that with more than 600 Billion, just halving it and using it on welfare, how much can be done!
Can you spot Australia, Iran, Turkey and Maldives on the world map? Also can you name one Country that name starts with U?
Where the hell is Maldives? Ugoslavia, Uruguay... I knew we wasted a lot of money on bombs but I thought surely someone else out there was running a close second.
USA does spend a lot, but whether is it worth the cost is another question. I just read an article that during the Space race, USA spends $1 million dollars to develop a pen so that their astronauts can write in space (due to the no gravity effect, normal pens cant function). The former USSR faced the same problem, their solution? They use a pencil. I think a lot of the money go to the pet projects or those that are most influential lobbying for their military ware to be sold.
Yeah I live on that continent, and I live in one of the United States. Not all US citizens are stupid, most of our ignorance rises from apathy I think, and not truly some genetic stupidity.
Not claiming any stupidity on your or Bernard's side. But, I found it funny that when asked to name one country that name starts with U, people state many countries but United States of America. Additionally I find it funny too, that someone, a Ron Paul supporter, a nationalist and probably a tax payer didn't know how much money his country spends on defense. (While one being a Ron Paul supporter, I assume s/he must know the spendings of his tax dollars, specially on defense). I could be wrong, as it's my mere assumption.
I haven't studied how the government is spending money on most everything. I've been largely apathetic to politics for decades because I didn't feel like there was any true choice or representation of my convictions in the system. Circumstances have changed, however. I find it funny how some DP members chide and provoke potential Ron Paul supporters without any intellectual honesty or reason.
There's a lot of reasons that the US spends more. 25% of the US defense budget is salaries. The US is both a land power and naval power. The US has defense obligations in both Europe and Asia so again more costs. Another thing to consider is that we really don't know the true cost of military spending in China.
Well, I can't speak for everyone in the U.S but me personally I think of myself as a citizen of my state more than anything. If you had asked me where I was born I would not have said the U.S either I would have said Kentucky. Read into it what you will I suppose. I don't know how much my government spends on maintaining the military of Israel or subsidizing corn but I know it is more than I think we should spend. Interesting point about China. They may truly be that close second I was expecting, or maybe not. I am actually quite proud that we have such a strong military and I think most US citizens would agree. We still waste a ton of that money though.
If you have not heard of Maldives before that tells me how much you know about the beautiful places around the World. Thanks Webby for pointing that out.
Stuff like this makes me livid. Look at this and then listen to the neocon idiots running for president on the Republican side talking about how we need to EXPAND the military. WTF? How about saving some money for...I don't know anything else? Maybe like cutting our taxes? The empire mentality here has to change.