We spend way too much money on the military

When I was young I heard the phase "guns or butter" when it came to government spending. Now that our country is or will always be at war it is really too bad. Can you imagine what would be discovered if we cut our military spending in half and devote that money to education and research:

Scientists print first 3D heart using patient's biological materials

It just really stinks this country is no longer the leader in so many areas of research.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
When I was young I heard the phase "guns or butter" when it came to government spending. Now that our country is or will always be at war it is really too bad. Can you imagine what would be discovered if we cut our military spending in half and devote that money to education and research:

Scientists print first 3D heart using patient's biological materials

It just really stinks this country is no longer the leader in so many areas of research.

Can you imagine if the adversarial countries around the world, not to mention the ISIS sympathizers would do if we disarmed like that for those reasons? It just stinks that people are so short-sighted and myopic...and live in their mind of Utopia (which is the only place it is located).

a reply to: dfnj2015
I think people take things out of context.

And the military industrial complex is huge, its not all about bombing funny named countries. In fact the technology that lead to these people making things like 3d printing and even the internet in the first place had its origins in the military industrial complex with people tinkering with things and various technologies and things.

Once those things go public market, they just change and take off in the consumer market in ways that they did not foresee. For instance, this thing called sites and things like youtube and a million other things.

So ya, I don't think you spend to much on the military. I think there is a lot of waste in certain aspects of the military. But that would go for every facet of civilization and life, be it public or military or otherwise.

a reply to: dfnj2015

I often wonder how things would be different if USA cut off foreign aid and financial assistance to non-Americans.

But...

Guess we'll never know either way.

a reply to: dfnj2015

I appreciate your sentiment, but its not reality. Its youth, or city living that allows people to think the way you do.

Does the MIC take advantage of taxes and feel nothing for life?...sure, but those who have never had to fight to survive, those that eat from a box or drink from a bottle their whole life...have zero capacity to evaluate the necessities requisite to provide "freedom" for better than 300 million people.

We don't spend enough, when it comes to those that get sent off to fight.

Maybe we should start charging the politicians... deduct their pay, for each and every battlefield casualty they authorized.

a reply to: BlueJacket

Provide "freedom" for better than 300 million people.

Who exactly is coming to take your freedom? Only people taking freedoms away is the Gov.

We dont spend enough money on the military.
We ask the military to do to much.

a reply to: errck

you are obviously not a student of history.

a reply to: madmac5150

Maybe if we didn't go to war with iraq and Afghanistan we could provide better gear.

originally posted by: blueman12
a reply to: madmac5150

Maybe if we didn't go to war with iraq and Afghanistan we could provide better gear.

Maybe, if our politicians would quit tying us up in foreign affairs, we wouldn't even be having this discussion.

Can you just imagine how much more money could be wasted in the education system if we cut military spending by 1/2? IDK which is worse but from everything I've researched there is often a direct correlation that the more that is spent on public education the worse it is over-all.

Have you considered all the technological advancements and breakthroughs that have come from military research? How much of that has moved into the world as non-military applications.?

I do think there needs to be more accountability in government spending and a heck of a lot more transparency and allow the spending to be reviewed by the citizens and see where money is being wasted or spent frivolously.

originally posted by: galadofwarthethird
a reply to: dfnj2015

I think people take things out of context.

And the military industrial complex is huge, its not all about bombing funny named countries. In fact the technology that lead to these people making things like 3d printing and even the internet in the first place had its origins in the military industrial complex with people tinkering with things and various technologies and things.

Once those things go public market, they just change and take off in the consumer market in ways that they did not foresee. For instance, this thing called sites and things like youtube and a million other things.

So ya, I don't think you spend to much on the military. I think there is a lot of waste in certain aspects of the military. But that would go for every facet of civilization and life, be it public or military or otherwise.

And just think of all the jobs.

originally posted by: Wardaddy454

originally posted by: galadofwarthethird
a reply to: dfnj2015

I think people take things out of context.

And the military industrial complex is huge, its not all about bombing funny named countries. In fact the technology that lead to these people making things like 3d printing and even the internet in the first place had its origins in the military industrial complex with people tinkering with things and various technologies and things.

Once those things go public market, they just change and take off in the consumer market in ways that they did not foresee. For instance, this thing called sites and things like youtube and a million other things.

So ya, I don't think you spend to much on the military. I think there is a lot of waste in certain aspects of the military. But that would go for every facet of civilization and life, be it public or military or otherwise.

And just think of all the jobs.

As I stated earlier, this poster is short-sighted and myopic in their views. Utopia does not exist...there are bad people that we need protection from and our military does that job quite well IMO. I am proud that my family served, since WWI.

Many people take advantage of freedom and think it comes for free. However, it does not, and was and will be built and supported by the blood of our soldiers. Some people simply cannot handle that truth.

originally posted by: Krakatoa

originally posted by: dfnj2015
When I was young I heard the phase "guns or butter" when it came to government spending. Now that our country is or will always be at war it is really too bad. Can you imagine what would be discovered if we cut our military spending in half and devote that money to education and research:

Scientists print first 3D heart using patient's biological materials

It just really stinks this country is no longer the leader in so many areas of research.

Can you imagine if the adversarial countries around the world, not to mention the ISIS sympathizers would do if we disarmed like that for those reasons? It just stinks that people are so short-sighted and myopic...and live in their mind of Utopia (which is the only place it is located).

Can you imagine no adversarial countries? Not to mention the US funded ISIS has sympathizers that go along with the US funded Al-Queda? It just stinks that people are so short-sighted and myopic...and live in their mind of fear and conquest.

originally posted by: superman2012

originally posted by: Krakatoa

originally posted by: dfnj2015
When I was young I heard the phase "guns or butter" when it came to government spending. Now that our country is or will always be at war it is really too bad. Can you imagine what would be discovered if we cut our military spending in half and devote that money to education and research:

Scientists print first 3D heart using patient's biological materials

It just really stinks this country is no longer the leader in so many areas of research.

Can you imagine if the adversarial countries around the world, not to mention the ISIS sympathizers would do if we disarmed like that for those reasons? It just stinks that people are so short-sighted and myopic...and live in their mind of Utopia (which is the only place it is located).

Can you imagine no adversarial countries? Not to mention the US funded ISIS has sympathizers that go along with the US funded Al-Queda? It just stinks that people are so short-sighted and myopic...and live in their mind of fear and conquest.

Yes I can imagine that. But, see, I live in reality. When has there EVER been that state of utopia in the history of Homo Sapien Sapien? Hmmmm? Never.

But, nice try being naive in the realities of this world.

originally posted by: dfnj2015
When I was young I heard the phase "guns or butter" when it came to government spending. Now that our country is or will always be at war it is really too bad. Can you imagine what would be discovered if we cut our military spending in half and devote that money to education and research:

Scientists print first 3D heart using patient's biological materials

It just really stinks this country is no longer the leader in so many areas of research.

I agree that military spending even on a global scale is ridiculous considering the amount of poverty seen in some parts of the world. The only positive I can think of for such spending is the amount of technology researched and created that can be helpful and not just used for destroying things

originally posted by: errck
a reply to: BlueJacket

Provide "freedom" for better than 300 million people.

Who exactly is coming to take your freedom? Only people taking freedoms away is the Gov.

Indeed. People love to prattle on about god-given freedoms & s#, but the reality is the lawmakers who write and pass that crap are who gives Americans any freedom at all, and they taketh them as they see fit, too.

The military's budget doesn't ensure jack when it comes to that little patriotic brainwash. Who you vote into federal power does.

originally posted by: Krakatoa

originally posted by: superman2012

originally posted by: Krakatoa

originally posted by: dfnj2015
When I was young I heard the phase "guns or butter" when it came to government spending. Now that our country is or will always be at war it is really too bad. Can you imagine what would be discovered if we cut our military spending in half and devote that money to education and research:

Scientists print first 3D heart using patient's biological materials

It just really stinks this country is no longer the leader in so many areas of research.

Can you imagine if the adversarial countries around the world, not to mention the ISIS sympathizers would do if we disarmed like that for those reasons? It just stinks that people are so short-sighted and myopic...and live in their mind of Utopia (which is the only place it is located).

Can you imagine no adversarial countries? Not to mention the US funded ISIS has sympathizers that go along with the US funded Al-Queda? It just stinks that people are so short-sighted and myopic...and live in their mind of fear and conquest.

Yes I can imagine that. But, see, I live in reality. When has there EVER been that state of utopia in the history of Homo Sapien Sapien? Hmmmm? Never.

But, nice try being naive in the realities of this world.

No, you are right. We do need the largest police force in the world cramming freedom down other country's and culture's throats because they aren't the same as us.
The op was a what if game and you failed spectacularly at playing along. That's all I was pointing out.

To the op: Even if the US cut it in half, they would still be the leaders in military budget worldwide. I think this is possible to do but the government has a command and conquer mentality. What is needed is a focus on making America a leader in education and scientific progress again. I believe that can be achieved if the right leader is elected.