@wildgrass saidDo you know how much Jerome Powell ,, federal reserve chair, is approving to pay for the new federal reserve building?
I think they would just buy more lobster tails.
Unreal that you stake your position that the government would find better uses for the $670 billion instead of the people.
They bought millions in luxury furniture for the Pentagon. Yikes.
$2.5 Billion. Trump could have done it for 350 million.
You really should not mess with average Joe.
@AverageJoe1 saidYou are mentioning other things. But at least we know what he's spending it on. Meanwhile our military has a slice of the pie that's so big it can't keep track of where more than half of it goes.
Do you know how much Jerome Powell ,, federal reserve chair, is approving to pay for the new federal reserve building?
$2.5 Billion. Trump could have done it for 350 million.
You really should not mess with average Joe.
@AverageJoe1 said$2.5 billion, how quaint.
Do you know how much Jerome Powell ,, federal reserve chair, is approving to pay for the new federal reserve building?
$2.5 Billion. Trump could have done it for 350 million.
You really should not mess with average Joe.
We still have 2,500 troops permanently stationed in Iraq, 23 years later. They will be stationed there for a few years, do nothing, and then collect military benefits the rest of their lives plus disability from the burn pit exposure. I'm not disparaging the military, it is just too much, not cost effective, not helping anyone, and rife with fraud and waste. It is estimated that the war on terror cost the US taxpayer approximately $10 trillion.
That's 4,000 times more than the cost of a building that, arguably, is a lot more valuable than anything we got from Iraq or Afghanistan.
@wildgrass saidI could do the same 'whataboutism' by pointing our what the govt gives, free, to parasites in our country. Snd then there is USAID, which gives money TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE of our country.
$2.5 billion, how quaint.
We still have 2,500 troops permanently stationed in Iraq, 23 years later. They will be stationed there for a few years, do nothing, and then collect military benefits the rest of their lives plus disability from the burn pit exposure. I'm not disparaging the military, it is just too much, not cost effective, not helping anyone, and rife with fra ...[text shortened]... of a building that, arguably, is a lot more valuable than anything we got from Iraq or Afghanistan.
So get off your pretense of knowing whether we need defense/military spending or not. You say we don't, and, I don't think we need to spend money like libs do. Free stuff. See a post of Sue yesterday that she wants 'what the constitution promises'. She never tell us what, but, mannnnn, she wants something..
Whataboutism concluded.
Do you REALLY expect one to read your post, and think, yeah, we spend too much on military, when we NEED military to make us the world's greatest country, and, the world's greatest peacekeeper.
Go tell it to Marauder, he'll listen.
@wildgrass saidYeah.
$2.5 billion, how quaint.
We still have 2,500 troops permanently stationed in Iraq, 23 years later. They will be stationed there for a few years, do nothing, and then collect military benefits the rest of their lives plus disability from the burn pit exposure. I'm not disparaging the military, it is just too much, not cost effective, not helping anyone, and rife with fra ...[text shortened]... of a building that, arguably, is a lot more valuable than anything we got from Iraq or Afghanistan.
But as i was saying your lib Powell is spending $2,5 B while Trump with his smarts could have 'saved us some money.'
In his first term, a spot in Jerusalem was suggested for a new embassy. Cost of land about $2M. He found an acceptable property for $300,000. We got that one. People like you and SHouse do not know about that, actually, you dont know anything about anything. Whining incessantly over nothing, you certainly know that!!
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@AverageJoe1 saidYou want to do a whataboutism about another whataboutism? Nice.
I could do the same 'whataboutism' by pointing our what the govt gives, free, to parasites in our country. Snd then there is USAID, which gives money TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE of our country.
So get off your pretense of knowing whether we need defense/military spending or not. You say we don't, and, I don't think we need to spend money like libs do. Free stuff. See a p ...[text shortened]... s greatest country, and, the world's greatest peacekeeper.
Go tell it to Marauder, he'll listen.
I was talking military budget, which is what the thread is about. If you can make me a reasonable argument, or if anyone can, about why we still have troops in Iraq I'm all ears. The closest we have seen to a defense of US military policy in this entire thread has been "well, at least it is not spent on something else".
But that's a dumb argument. We don't have to spend it. Give it back to taxpayers.
The difference between any other whataboutism and the military budget is that the military budget isn't really a budget at all. They spend whatever amount they want on whatever they want, and there's no paper trail for more than half of it. There is no accounting of why the spending is needed to make us great. No one knows, not even Congress. Meanwhile we get told all the time that "we can't afford" things like health care, but there's an unlimited pile of money to put soldier's in harms way for no stated reason or mission goal.
The funny thing is, it's hard to find someone making the counter-argument about needing this spending that actually grounded in fact.
https://www.cato.org/commentary/why-are-american-troops-still-iraq-syria
https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2023/03/14/a-look-back-at-how-fear-and-false-beliefs-bolstered-u-s-public-support-for-war-in-iraq/
@wildgrass saidSilly that a neophyte would write about USA military, The reason for being in Iraq? Strategy, focusing on bad guys. Prevents resurgence. Your friend Marauder says...'everyone go home now'. Talk about a Neophyte!!! We have seen what happens when we pull out of a place.
You want to do a whataboutism about another whataboutism? Nice.
I was talking military budget, which is what the thread is about. If you can make me a reasonable argument, or if anyone can, about why we still have troops in Iraq I'm all ears. The closest we have seen to a defense of US military policy in this entire thread has been "well, at least it is not spent on some ...[text shortened]... s/2023/03/14/a-look-back-at-how-fear-and-false-beliefs-bolstered-u-s-public-support-for-war-in-iraq/
You say 'spend whatever they want!!?!?!!??' Congress authorizes and appropriates the budget, and it is debated publicly. Though some of it is by necessity confidential, it is subject to to accountability, and trust me, just about everyone is sick of your comparing defense spending to domestic programs like healthcare. National defense is a core constitutional responsibility. Healthcare is a separate political debate. Man, you are sunhouse and marauder and wildgrass all over the place.
And let me tell you this… Remember when the world seems peaceful it's because of strength and alliances and mainly , USA presence , which keeps our adversaries in line. Don't you like our ships parked all over those hot spots?? It cost money, doesn't it. Better than costing lives.
Go play darts at the pub with Shav, we will take care of you.
Repeat: Military a constitutional requirement. Healthcare is NOT mentioned in the Constitution. I know, because Suzianne looked for it , and confirmed.
@AverageJoe1 said
Silly that a neophyte would write about USA military, The reason for being in Iraq? Strategy, focusing on bad guys. Prevents resurgence. Your friend Marauder says...'everyone go home now'. Talk about a Neophyte!!! We have seen what happens when we pull out of a place.
You say 'spend whatever they want!!?!?!!??' Congress authorizes and appropriates the budget, and i ...[text shortened]... hcare is NOT mentioned in the Constitution. I know, because Suzianne looked for it , and confirmed.
It cost money, doesn't it. Better than costing lives.
Lots of things cost money, and if we threw the whole military budget at health care I would guarantee you that it would save lives.
How much is enough? Where are considerations being made about budget in the military? It seems like one individual who works at the Pentagon can go out and buy $15 million worth of steak tartar and no one bats an eyelash over there.
When that behavior that is so wasteful and inconsiderate of tax dollars is pervasively woven into the military culture, clearly they have too much money, right?
@wildgrass saidEveryone, bear with the WGrass. as he ignores reality. Like all the bespectacled girls with signs in the streets!!!It cost money, doesn't it. Better than costing lives.
Lots of things cost money, and if we threw the whole military budget at health care I would guarantee you that it would save lives.
How much is enough? Where are considerations being made about budget in the military? It seems like one individual who works at the Pentagon can go out and buy $15 millio ...[text shortened]... tax dollars is pervasively woven into the military culture, clearly they have too much money, right?
If we move military funds to healthcare, we might have a problem with securing trade routes (which includes medicines to the USA) , and preventing conflicts that cost far more than lives in the long term. That's 'long term', Wgrass. Say it 3 times.
The real question? What specific capabilities are you willing to cut, and what risk are you willing to accept as a result. Because every dollar you remove from defense has real world consequences… Not theoretical ones. You libs deal in theory.
You are actually saying that we can gut defense spending with no consequences. And you're also saying that waste is the same thing as systemic dysfunction. Many components of our system depend upon one another, look it up. You are pie in the sky, "Let's cut defense and let all the other components 'work it out' "
You think adversaries will 'pause; when they see us cut defenses!?!?!?!? Hmmm, USA have no B-2!! Tell us, what exactly are you cutting? Troops? Intelligence? Naval Power? Ee do have a LOT of ships...Deterrence? Wgrass is saying it will NOT lead to world consequences.
you are all vibes and exaggerations, you promote zero accountability. Reduce defense, get hit, blame Trump. What a plan.,,you been conferring w Sohouse and Dem Senators?
You know, airhead, our defense is the reason you even have the stability and economy to fund healthcare in the first place. We already ahve healthcare, dont we? Thousands of programs out there. You speaking of the 'free healthcare for you and the illegal aliens???" say it ain't so, YOu are one of THOSE!!?!?
Wilkdgrass and AOC for president. (NOT Kamala, she cant converse. Oh, she can talk, but can't converse)
@AverageJoe1
Saved your last smart-ass comment about our soldiers getting a steak dinner at 'our expense', as they defend our lives.
There are names for unpatriotic Americans, someone else tell him what he is, I am trying to keep it clean on the Florum.
@wildgrass saidI heard on the news Trump wants $200 billion to fight the war in Iran. How much do you want to bet congress will authorize the FRS to create the money out of nothing which will fuel inflation?
Is there anyone who questions military costs and makes decisions to keep prices down? Are there any considerations on this? Whose job is it? Do you think there's a general that's like "well, I know that Lockheed Martin is charging us $7 million per missile, do you think we can use the $1 million missile for this job instead???"
Estimates are coming in that the US-Iran wa ...[text shortened]... om/world/irans-drone-swarm-attacks-unleash-exponential-costs-us-prolonging-war-asymmetric-capability
Then they will blame it on higher fuel prices instead of their own legal counterfeiting scam. Same thing they did during the Saudi oil embargo. They paid for the Vietnam war with inflation. Then they blamed it all on the oil embargo. And yeah, people are that stupid.
@shavixmir saidYes.
Pay for education, health and infrastructure and tell the sellers of death to go fvck themselves.
@Metal-Brain saidYeah us taxpayers already cut the check for a trillion dollars to Pete hegseth and now he wants $200 billion more.
I heard on the news Trump wants $200 billion to fight the war in Iran. How much do you want to bet congress will authorize the FRS to create the money out of nothing which will fuel inflation?
Then they will blame it on higher fuel prices instead of their own legal counterfeiting scam. Same thing they did during the Saudi oil embargo. They paid for the Vietnam war with inflation. Then they blamed it all on the oil embargo. And yeah, people are that stupid.
It's funny money. Well never know what they actually spend it on.
If Republicans had any spine, they would tell their voters to pay higher taxes to pay for their excesses.
But you're right, they'll just borrow it and get your grandkids to pay for the bombs.
@wildgrass saidRight. But borrowing leads to inflation. When the interest can barely be paid they will have to create the money out of nothing to pay it. Inflation is a tax.
Yeah us taxpayers already cut the check for a trillion dollars to Pete hegseth and now he wants $200 billion more.
It's funny money. Well never know what they actually spend it on.
If Republicans had any spine, they would tell their voters to pay higher taxes to pay for their excesses.
But you're right, they'll just borrow it and get your grandkids to pay for the bombs.