Liberals see opportunity for big cuts in defense

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

All we have to do is get out of two bs wars and stop fighting for Big Oil.

What about Kuwait, Qatar, Libya, Korea, Japan, and Germany?

[mawilson 2,133]

Defense spending was 3% of GDP in 2001 and is now at 5% of GDP.

Only 5 percent? Even Saudi Arabia spends more than that on defense.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Defense related spending for 2012 is projected to be $1.030–$1.415 trillion. A 40% cut would reduce that by $400 to $600 billion.

What does that figure include? The administration's defense budget request for 2012 is at $671BN (just shy of 5% of GDP). Your figure range reaches about 10% of GDP.

Only 5 percent? Even Saudi Arabia spends more than that on defense.

Yes, there are a few countries that spend more as a percentage of GDP - see map.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

What does that figure include? The administration's defense budget request for 2012 is at $671BN (just shy of 5% of GDP). Your figure range reaches about 10% of GDP.

Budget Breakdown for 2012

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_the_United_States

Edited July 20, 2011 by Some Old Guy

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Budget Breakdown for 2012

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_the_United_States

I see. Everything defense related. In other words, total defense expenditure = total federal budget deficit. Interesting.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Perhaps if we didn't spend so much time worrying about the rest of the world's problems, we might solve a few closer to home. It's only a major conflict, if we decide to be a player.

http://www.reuters.com/video/2011/07/19/pakistan-taliban-releases-video-of-mass?videoId=217212878&videoChannel=2602

Would there be more or less of this?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

http://www.reuters.com/video/2011/07/19/pakistan-taliban-releases-video-of-mass?videoId=217212878&videoChannel=2602

Would there be more or less of this?

Seems like a domestic issue for Pakistan to me.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

http://www.reuters.com/video/2011/07/19/pakistan-taliban-releases-video-of-mass?videoId=217212878&videoChannel=2602

Would there be more or less of this?

Are we making things better in the area, or making things worse? My question is whether we should be there at all, if it really has no effect on folks back home.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

http://www.reuters.com/video/2011/07/19/pakistan-taliban-releases-video-of-mass?videoId=217212878&videoChannel=2602

Would there be more or less of this?

That's Pakistans problem, not ours. We have enough problems that need to be dealt with at home yet have been avoided. Illegal immigration and protecting our borders comes to mind. It's costing this country billions yet little to nothing has been done about it. If Pakistan can't hold their own, then tuff sh*t for them. It's their problem, not ours and it's not our responsibility to deal with it. This country is broke.

[웃 910]

That's Pakistans problem, not ours. We have enough problems that need to be dealt with at home yet have been avoided. Illegal immigration and protecting our borders comes to mind. It's costing this country billions yet little to nothing has been done about it. If Pakistan can't hold their own, then tuff sh*t for them. It's their problem, not ours and it's not our responsibility to deal with it. This country is broke.

We are actually the richest country in the known universe by far. We make almost $15 trillion a year. As comparison, the entire European Union combined barely makes $16 trillion a year.

And to top it off, they are working with a combined 500 million people and we only have 300 million!

China is almost up to $6 trillion but they are working with about 336 million people which is slightly more than we have (plus another billion): total 1.336 billion...

Edited July 21, 2011 by Lord Infamous

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That's Pakistans problem, not ours. We have enough problems that need to be dealt with at home yet have been avoided. Illegal immigration and protecting our borders comes to mind. It's costing this country billions yet little to nothing has been done about it. If Pakistan can't hold their own, then tuff sh*t for them. It's their problem, not ours and it's not our responsibility to deal with it. This country is broke.

America can multitask