GDP Shrinks by 6.1% in Q1

[Bitmap Frogs]

HappySqurriel said:

Bitmap Frogs said:

If that were true, the first thing the government should do is dismantle the military forces. As a whole the US military costs a shitton more than it generates for society. Nowadays a bunch of nuclears and a small task force is all is needed.

But hey, I forgot somewhat the concept of a fiscal blackhole such as the military forces is at the core of the republican beliefs. Guess someone has to lobby to keep hundreds of thousands of people on the government payroll.

The Military was (probably) a very poorly chosen target ... They were only 21% of the budget in 2008 (and will be dramatically less in 2009 and beyond); the military trains a lot of people for productive careers which are available in the private sector; the Military pays for a lot of people to go to university; the Military gives their soldiers discipline, personal motivation and self respect (which results in people far less likely to commit crime or be dependant on the government); and the Military spends an amazingly large amount of their money on Research and Development which results in new technologies which work their way into tons of products.

... In other words, the Military is far from a fiscal blackhole and military members (and everyone) benefits from the spending even if you don't consider safety

 

Only 21%? That's one fifth of the budget. It's a crapload.

All the R+D spent by the military would be more efficiently translated into advancements through regular science channels. It's a huge argument that deserves its own thread but while it is true the military is funding R+D, is doing it at a higher cost. The only military R+D spending worth its salt is DARPA - and the society as a whole would benefit way, way more if all DARPA projects were blown open instead of hidden behind red tape. Remember military science requires secrecy so it takes time until those advancements reach society.

Your argument about military values is bollocks because it clashes with a harsh reality: countries with significantly smaller military forces have lower crime rates that the USA. So either significant military forces increase crime or are not a factor, your choice.

In other words, the military is a fiscal blackhole unless you spin some facts and hide some other ones.