Rasmus Jorgensen + 1,169 RJ January 11, 2020 1 minute ago, Douglas Buckland said: Huh? What topic are you on? @SERWIN suggested US should balance the budget by cutting welfare programs. I in turn suggested that 30 years of excessive military spending after the cold war effectively ended was maybe a bigger part of the problem. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douglas Buckland + 6,308 January 11, 2020 7 minutes ago, Rasmus Jorgensen said: @SERWIN suggested US should balance the budget by cutting welfare programs. I in turn suggested that 30 years of excessive military spending after the cold war effectively ended was maybe a bigger part of the problem. Okay, see where you are coming from now. The chronology of the posts had me confused. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Kirkman + 8,860 January 11, 2020 11 minutes ago, Rasmus Jorgensen said: @SERWIN suggested US should balance the budget by cutting welfare programs. I in turn suggested that 30 years of excessive military spending after the cold war effectively ended was maybe a bigger part of the problem. Why not cut both? Legitimate question, no sarcasm intended. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rasmus Jorgensen + 1,169 RJ January 11, 2020 11 minutes ago, Tom Kirkman said: Why not cut both? Legitimate question, no sarcasm intended. I believe in social programs and wealth re-distribution. There is, however, rightly, a discussion to be had around levels and how. However, try to imagine what the world would ahve looked like if the US had cut military spending massively post cold war. Europe would have been forced to invest in defense capacity; there would be fewer US military adventures around the world.... My point was just that the US would get more bang for their buck by dismantling the military indsutrial complex than by cutting social programs.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,608 RP January 11, 2020 (edited) 11 minutes ago, Rasmus Jorgensen said: I believe in social programs and wealth re-distribution. There is, however, rightly, a discussion to be had around levels and how. However, try to imagine what the world would ahve looked like if the US had cut military spending massively post cold war. Europe would have been forced to invest in defense capacity; there would be fewer US military adventures around the world.... My point was just that the US would get more bang for their buck by dismantling the military indsutrial complex than by cutting social programs.. This is true but the US would not have been able to flex its considerable muscles and influence other countries in the way it has done if it had a significantly weaker military I’m sure Marcin would agree Edited January 11, 2020 by Rob Plant Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rasmus Jorgensen + 1,169 RJ January 11, 2020 1 minute ago, Rob Plant said: This is true but the US would not have been able to flex its considerable muscles and influence other countries in the way it has done if it had a significantly weaker military But wouldn't that be a good thing? Generally I tend to think that Western military adventures have not brought anything positive them... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douglas Buckland + 6,308 January 11, 2020 13 minutes ago, Tom Kirkman said: Why not cut both? Legitimate question, no sarcasm intended. Good point! In my opinion the welfare programs have been abused and need to be tightened up. The military spending is a bit different as it actually creates jobs. I know that sounds odd, but think about it. Building a nuke carrier or sub keeps a shipyard open for years as well as employs all the tradesmen required for the build. It also keeps two crews of sailors employed. The knock-on effect is that all these tradesmen and sailors require housing, food, transportation, etc... If you multiply the expenditure by the number of times each dollar changes hands, this is a Godsend to the community. The same rationale applies to a plant that builds say aircraft or tanks. The benefit to the community, whether the tanks ever fire a round, the aircraft ever fly or the ship ever sails is astronomical and has nothing to do with military action. That said, as the events of the past week show, there are many in the world that would love to do us harm. A overwhelmingly strong military, in both equipment and well trained soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines is necessary for our foreign policies as well as, perhaps, our survival. Keep in mind that this ‘defense budget’ also keeps our military personnel employed. Lastly, history has shown us that weakening our military after WW1, WW2 and the Korean War had seriously negative effects when the next conflict began...and there has always been a ‘next’. Just my opinion, nothing else... 1 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rasmus Jorgensen + 1,169 RJ January 11, 2020 10 minutes ago, Douglas Buckland said: That said, as the events of the past week show, there are many in the world that would love to do us harm But why do many want to harm the US? Could it have something to do with military adventures and overthrowing governments ? 11 minutes ago, Douglas Buckland said: A overwhelmingly strong military, in both equipment and well trained soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines is necessary for our foreign policies as well as, perhaps, our survival which foreign policies? MAD should be able to keep the US Safe... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douglas Buckland + 6,308 January 11, 2020 1 minute ago, Rasmus Jorgensen said: But why do many want to harm the US? Could it have something to do with military adventures and overthrowing governments ? which foreign policies? MAD should be able to keep the US Safe... Do you think MAD is applicable in asymmetric warfare? These are the conflicts we are now involved in. Do you think MAD would have prevented any of the conflicts in the Middle East? MAD was a mechanism used to prevent war between nuclear armed combatants. You have a unique concept of MAD and how, why or when it is an applicable option. How many times has the US actually utilized military might to overthrow governments when they were not provoked? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douglas Buckland + 6,308 January 11, 2020 The Muslim extremists/jihadis REQUIRE a target to remain relevant and toattract recruits.The Great Satan has been, and will be, that target whether we pull out of everywhere and emasculate our military. The only difference is that they could kill Americans, anywhere on the planet, without fear of repercussion. As an American overseas, I do not find that acceptable. 1 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marcin2 + 724 MK January 11, 2020 (edited) On 1/11/2020 at 1:03 PM, Rasmus Jorgensen said: Overall I agree. Although I would think the military industrial complex should be dealt with before social programs. This is an interesting problem. Question is what is better for overall economy and development in US, cutting welfare programs or defence spending by the same amount, long-term 20 years perspective ? Edited May 14, 2020 by Marcin2 typo 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marcin2 + 724 MK January 11, 2020 (edited) An interesting observation Edited May 14, 2020 by Marcin2 typo 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,608 RP January 11, 2020 1 hour ago, Rasmus Jorgensen said: But wouldn't that be a good thing? Generally I tend to think that Western military adventures have not brought anything positive them... Maybe for the rest of the world but not USA 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Kirkman + 8,860 January 11, 2020 8 minutes ago, Marcin2 said: Welfare programs on the other hand decrease inequalites in the society Nope. Exactly the opposite. Large scale welfare encourages people to not work, to not be productive, and to expect a "free" handout from government (all that "free" stuff is taxpayer money). Chicago is a great example. The number of people in Chicago on welfare keeps increasing, decade after decade. If welfare actually worked, the number of people on welfare should steadily decrease, and not increase. 1 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marcin2 + 724 MK January 11, 2020 (edited) An interesting observation. Edited May 14, 2020 by Marcin2 typo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douglas Buckland + 6,308 January 11, 2020 25 minutes ago, Marcin2 said: This is an interesting problem. Question is what is better for overall economy and development in US, cutting welfare programs or defence spending by the same amount, long-term 20 years perspective ? It would be very difficult to calculate. Defence spending has multiplying effects on domestic consumption, investment, research and development progress, and at the same time external effects of the increased global hard power. This gives you petrodollar, better "fat" deals for your companies given by foreign governments, many external effects. Welfare programs on the other hand decrease inequalites in the society, and at some level of inequality like in South Africa it has significant harmful effect on economy. Better access to education, healthcare, lower crime rate. But reserach shows that standard deviation of life expectancy is higher in US due to economic reasons than in EU, but it is never the less too low (like 4 years between 15,000 USD earner and 200,000 USD earner) that is has no practical effect on economic activity. The same is with the crime rate, no significant impact on GDP even at US rates, 5 times the EU rates. Large % of inmates in US society is also not that bad for economy, it is only 0.7% of population and prisons are great business. Impact on education i do not know but tertiary education levels in US are very high so impact of 20% educationally impaired black and latino population may be not very high. Difficult to tell and calculate, this is mainly democratic political choice in EU societies to have high redistribution levels. I am not advocating cutting welfare programs, what I am advocating is policing these programs to make sure that they are actually providing a safety net for those it was intended to. When you see well dressed women paying for sirloin steaks and Oreo cookies at the Safeway check out with one of these welfare cards, it is obvious that the system is being abused. To provide a safety net for those in need is one thing, when I see these people living off the taxes of others and eating better than my parents can on social security, I get annoyed. We need to prevent people from gaming the system. I have heard similar comments from British citizens and the ‘dole’. It is not a uniquely American phenomena. 1 4 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douglas Buckland + 6,308 January 11, 2020 ”But why not leave them with their usual, preferred target of other islamists ?” Do the attacks, both of them on the World Trade Center, as well as the attack in Paris and elsewhere in Europe and the UK ring a bell with you? These attacks, and many others like them, were not carried out against “other islamists”, they were carried out against infidels who chose not to follow Islam. You really should pull your head out of your butt and pay attention... 1 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob Plant + 2,608 RP January 11, 2020 (edited) 12 minutes ago, Douglas Buckland said: I have heard similar comments from British citizens and the ‘dole’. It is not a uniquely American phenomena. Yes we are just as stupid in the UK people actually try and have as many kids as they can with no means of providing for any of them, then the government steps in and gives them a load of cash and a mansion to live in!! meanwhile honest hard working idiots like you and me struggle to get by and are taxed to keep these layabouts in a lifestyle they don’t deserve! Douglas you are 100% correct on this one! Edited January 11, 2020 by Rob Plant 3 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ward Smith + 6,615 January 11, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, Douglas Buckland said: I am of the opinion that if you cannot identify a lumbering commercial airliner climbing out of an international airport, on one of the known runway headings of that airport, then perhaps you should not be given sophisticated ground-to-air missiles to play with. Just imagine these bozos with nuclear missiles Whoops i see I'm late to this party and Tom (of course) had a good meme besides. What good might come of this? They're already having protests oh the streets demanding the head of the top cleric. That's a good start and with Solemeini dead, less likely to have a bloodthirsty boss ordering troops to murder their countrymen. Edited January 11, 2020 by Ward Smith Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Kirkman + 8,860 January 11, 2020 Oh Hai Iran (video in the link below) https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee/status/1216004739932073984 Also, https://twitter.com/heshmatalavi/status/1216007363725078528?s=21 And, https://twitter.com/Doranimated 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Kirkman + 8,860 January 11, 2020 And for those who are not faint of heart, this 4chan thread linked below is loaded with Iranian Twitter URLs, discussing and showing the current protests in Iran. Iran is currently shooting protesters. Do NOT click the 4chan /pol/ link below if you have thin skin or are easily offended (although this /pol/ thread (politically incorrect thread) is pretty tame compared to the usual chan threads). After debating about it, the reason I decided to post a 4chan thread here is because it is loaded with Iran Twitter links, which Twitter is making pretty dang difficult to find right now. Shadowbanning and such. And these Twitter links blow apart the MSM disinformation about the Iran people fawning over their government leaders. Iran is in turmoil, big time. Anyway, here's that 4chan thread: https://boards.4chan.org/pol/thread/239256020 For background info, I was a part of an Anonymous initiative back around 2009, to help Iranian students bypass government censorship online and get videos of their resistance out for the world to see, via YouTube. Hope this time the Iranian students fare better than a decade ago. 1 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
remake it + 288 January 11, 2020 1 hour ago, Ward Smith said: Just imagine these bozos with nuclear missiles Given that President Trump's actions have provided renewed impetus for Iran to accelerate its nuclear program how can you think the point you made was funny? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ward Smith + 6,615 January 11, 2020 9 minutes ago, remake it said: Given that President Trump's actions have provided renewed impetus for Iran to accelerate its nuclear program how can you think the point you made was funny? Accelerate what nuclear program? Oh would that be the existing nuclear program? Now might be the time for you to get a reboot. 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Kirkman + 8,860 January 11, 2020 12 second video clip in the link https://twitter.com/DailyCaller/status/1216042228344377344 https://www.twitter.com/HadiNili/status/1216074367412645889 chants heard on Tehran streets: “Soleimani was a murderer, his Leader is too” Protests emerged on streets in multiple cities across Iran few hours after IRGC admitted to shooting down a commercial flight #PS752. https://www.twitter.com/Natsecjeff/status/1216076327993909248 Mass revolt in Iran. Several previously pro-regime journalists and media personalities are apologizing to Iranians to misleading them with lies at behest of the regime. Some media personalities who previously worked for state TV are saying they will never work for state TV again https://www.twitter.com/FourCzen/status/1216062768853520384 #BREAKING protest began in #Rasht, a city in north of #Iran, Gilan province. #PS752S #IranPlaneCrash #IranProtests continue in 3 cities : #Tehran, #Isfahan & Rasht https://www.twitter.com/Natsecjeff/status/1216071905289154565 Heavy deployment of regime's forces in Tehran. #Iran #IranProtests https://www.twitter.com/Conflicts/status/1216079444475027456 IRAN: Large protests have erupted across the country today as anger at the government in the wake of the #PS572 shootdown increases. https://www.twitter.com/falih_448/status/1216072664521068546 “They lie and say the enemy is America, our enemy is right here in #Iran.” Anti regime protests in Esfahan, #Iran. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
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