|
For 70+ years, the Soviet Union competed with America economically, under state communism. The Soviet Union grew to an economic and military superpower until it's collapse in 1991.
To say the Soviet Union was a failure is misguided ignorance at best. A 70 year superpower a failure?
Now, I'm not trying to defend state communism which is basically a dictatorship. The USSR violated human rights on an epic scale. Google "Gulags", Soviet slave labor/death camps.
Despite the human rights violations and American boycotts that led to a full American embargo of the USSR, the USSR competed in the global economy as a SUPERPOWER.
Hardly a failure.
What brought down the Soviet Union? Their economy? Their nation? What could possibly bring down an economic superpower?
:nuke: :nuke: WAR :nuke: :nuke:
WAR SPENDING LED TO THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION.
1. A NUCLEAR ARMS RACE WITH AMERICA.
2. A FAILED WAR WITH AFGHANISTAN THROUGHOUT THE '80s.
But before we thump our chests in victory over our former adversary, please understand. The arms race with the USSR set in motion the economic downfall of America as well.
:nuke: :nuke: ATOMIC RONNY RAY-GUN:nuke: :nuke: - since signing his first federal budget in 1981, Ray-Gun increased military/national defense spending to the #1 largest sector of ALL government spending.
Defense spending would remain the #1 sector of all govt spending for the next 27 years. Only to be eclipsed and surpassed by Bushco's bank bailout signed into law late in 2008, and Obama's econ stimulus package in '09.
Atomic Ron inherited a national debt of $600 Billion upon inauguration in 1981. Ray-Gun ran our debt up to $3.5 Trillion when he left office in 1988. Many economists issued dire warnings about that debt figure. Many said we'd never be able to pay off that debt and that the interest would consume our GDP. $3.5 Trillion was an unfathomable number back in 1988 dollars. Ray-Guns debt was almost completely attributed to defense/military spending and the arms race with USSR.
Following the stock market crash in Oct '87 America plunged into recession. How could we be in recession with such massive "investments" in our military? Because defense spending has very little return on the investment.
Public investments in roads, education, health care etc have a significant return on the dollars spent. As much as $1.57 returned per dollar spent.
Defense spending has a negative return on dollars spent. When it's your nations largest sector of spending... you get the point.
75% of America's now $14 Trillion dollar debt is attributed to defense spending.
The New Deal, Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, Public Education, Unemployment Benefits, Food Stamps, Roads, Highways, Rail, Light Rail etc haven't ran us into debt. The returns on public investments don't create debt.
But defense spending has ran us deep into a $14 Trillion debt. An unfathomable number.
The Afghan War and the Iraq War will be our economic downfall. America is a nation incapable of learning from past history.
We're repeating the mistakes that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
We're the next SUPERPOWER in line to collapse because of an addiction to warmongering.
It's time to call for an end to wars and a 75% reduction in defense spending. We have over 700 military bases worldwide.
We can spend like that on warfare but we can't afford Health Care? GIMMEE A F***IN BREAK!
As a nation, if we don't pull our collective heads out of our asses, we'll suffer the same fate as the former Soviet Union.
:nuke::nuke:AMERICA, CHANGE OR DIE WATCHING IT ALL COME CRASHING DOWN ON TOP OF US.:nuke::nuke:
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
