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Sancho

(9,065 posts)
91. +++
Sat Dec 22, 2012, 08:37 AM
Dec 2012

I'm a draft-card burning, baby-boomer. I have been protesting military spending since my parents build a bomb shelter in our back yard in the early 1960's. Doomsday preppers are nothing new to me.

In my lifetime, the US has spent enough on secret weapons, nuclear weapons, foreign wars, bases all over the world, etc. that it is insane. We could have funded health care and free education all the way through college for everyone in the country for the $$'s we've spent on the military.

Personally, I'd like the entire DOD limited to 10% of the budget - and I'd bet no one would notice except a lot fewer people would be killed.

Totally agreed treestar Dec 2012 #1
If it's military "RELATED" expenses then it's even more than 60% CIA, DIA, NSA etc... uponit7771 Dec 2012 #2
Homeland Security... (3.5%) grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #3
Look at all the costs nineteen50 Dec 2012 #19
America's afraid of it's own formidable shadow. We are a nation at fear. AAO Dec 2012 #88
Thank you. woo me with science Dec 2012 #68
Some of the military budget is hidden in strange places DavidDvorkin Dec 2012 #76
+1, Used to work for DOD...money is spread out uponit7771 Dec 2012 #77
Almost any science / technology program is dual purpose, even medical research... reACTIONary Dec 2012 #98
That's what I was told when I worked there, 1967-1971 DavidDvorkin Dec 2012 #105
Thanks for the info. When LBJ said that we should seize the "high ground" of space... reACTIONary Dec 2012 #110
Media and pundits always say that Social Security/Medicare is ~40% of the budget TheProgressive Dec 2012 #4
Not true. You are the one not telling the truth. guardian Dec 2012 #23
But it is... please read the 'Highlights' TheProgressive Dec 2012 #26
Disgree. That issue does not happen for 21 years! Simple fix: grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #28
+47% (n/t) klook Dec 2012 #35
Agree!!!! Grins Jan 2013 #141
Those trust fund assets came from FICA contributions over the years (and interest). spooky3 Dec 2012 #72
And, what about the funds that have been borrowed? tecelote Dec 2012 #50
What borrowed funds are you referring to? TheProgressive Dec 2012 #56
You mean the funds that were invested jmowreader Dec 2012 #65
There are two ways to look at the budget jmowreader Dec 2012 #63
+1000 n/t a geek named Bob Dec 2012 #5
knr. bunnies Dec 2012 #6
+10,000 smirkymonkey Dec 2012 #7
Fear and greed versus the wellfare of the people. Gregorian Dec 2012 #8
Something's not right here ... Scuba Dec 2012 #9
You left out the military golf courses for all the generals Coyotl Dec 2012 #10
The golf courses can be used by any military personnel of any rank SnowCritter Dec 2012 #48
Those are general-funded, not taxpayer-funded jmowreader Dec 2012 #52
The Military-Leisure Golf Complex = officials are tee-ing off at taxpayer expense at hundreds Coyotl Dec 2012 #64
Take anything Proxmire ridiculed with a grain of salt jmowreader Dec 2012 #89
Thank you. Cannot kick and rec often or strongly enough. woo me with science Dec 2012 #11
Agree with you ONE HUNDRED percent Ian62 Dec 2012 #125
That's my 2naSalit Dec 2012 #12
Could you provide a link to the data source? TheProgressive Dec 2012 #13
You should try The Google. valerief Dec 2012 #102
+10^100 n/t RoccoR5955 Dec 2012 #14
K&R closeupready Dec 2012 #15
Exactly. ellisonz Dec 2012 #16
Hell yes! daleanime Dec 2012 #17
Mostly agree, though I think the VA department needs to be left out of that 60% Bucky Dec 2012 #18
absolutely! Ligyron Dec 2012 #44
The increase required to the VA budget due to going to war Ian62 Dec 2012 #126
Been sayin it. DeSwiss Dec 2012 #20
Great video. woo me with science Dec 2012 #25
Wow. War eats $95,000 PER SECOND! grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #42
De nada. DeSwiss Dec 2012 #54
It cost $300 million TOTAL in the period from 1967 to 1980 to eradicate small pox. leftlibdem420 Dec 2012 #80
I agree. DeSwiss Dec 2012 #83
An excellent quote and very prescient for America today Ian62 Dec 2012 #124
This is such a great statement on the purpose of war. Thank you for posting it. Overseas Dec 2012 #130
1000% Agreed. No cuts to safety not at ALL!! on point Dec 2012 #21
hey, killing a noun (terror) isn't free. JEB Dec 2012 #22
cese cese Dec 2012 #24
Chart is a picture of only the discretionary budget. korak Dec 2012 #27
Correction korak Dec 2012 #34
The pie chart in the OP represents the GENERAL FUND (programs paid for by income tax) Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #119
Total military spending for 2012 is $1,219 bn - that is 35% of TOTAL government spend Ian62 Dec 2012 #127
'Total Govt spending" includes SS payments that grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #137
100% spot on. ileus Dec 2012 #29
It's not just the "elephant" in the room, it's the pig in the room, considering more is paid to mother earth Dec 2012 #30
K&r... spanone Dec 2012 #31
yep heaven05 Dec 2012 #32
I count the military, homeland security, and TSA in the same bucket. airplaneman Dec 2012 #33
Absolutely!!! Plucketeer Dec 2012 #36
And how about a link that breaks out the defense budget into war related items mostlyconfused Dec 2012 #37
Largest single source of corporate welfare as well. K&R n/t Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #38
Great charts! ReRe Dec 2012 #39
War is 60% of our budget. That's the ONLY place cuts need to come from Denise21 Dec 2012 #40
Absolutely! It looks by your graph that our best years were during low defense spending. The Wielding Truth Dec 2012 #41
That is a very interesting observation, grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #69
Too many profiteering warmongers npk Dec 2012 #43
You make an excellent point humbled_opinion Dec 2012 #45
The military budget ought to be sliced down to 15% Panasonic Dec 2012 #46
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Dec 2012 #47
Damn Right !! Maineman Dec 2012 #49
Until we rid ourselves of our current plutocracy, Rex Dec 2012 #51
Hear! Hear! Raster Dec 2012 #53
''Money trumps peace.'' -- George Walker Bush, Feb. 14, 2007 Octafish Dec 2012 #55
I would post these on Facebook but... Tanta Dec 2012 #57
Someone tell the president n/t whatchamacallit Dec 2012 #58
What exactly is operations and maintenance? Is this the money spent on Cleita Dec 2012 #59
Operations as in "Operation Iraqi Liberation" (OIL) aka War on Terra grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #60
The Pentagon can't even provide accurate accounting for the funds it receives. think Dec 2012 #61
"The bloated Pentagon budget has increased a staggering 95 percent dating back to 2000." grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #71
Bingo Auggie Dec 2012 #106
K&R nt ProudProgressiveNow Dec 2012 #62
Part of the same culture of fear that brings us the "gun culture" Scootaloo Dec 2012 #66
Agree libodem Dec 2012 #67
We borrow 800-million a week from China to continue the war in Afghanistan rustydog Dec 2012 #70
100th REC! JaneyVee Dec 2012 #73
Absolutely! (nt) ehrenfeucht games Dec 2012 #74
and about half of the world's total lilitary spending pokerfan Dec 2012 #75
The fact that we don't talk about cutting military spending demonstrates the need for Dustlawyer Dec 2012 #117
Hell, Rmoney wanted to increase the military by $2T pokerfan Dec 2012 #121
Yeah, Rmoney was a corp whore too! Let's see who Obama pays back. Dustlawyer Dec 2012 #136
The wars have not ended. Have you seen the budget for Afghanistan? dkf Dec 2012 #78
I suppose a Republican would include Social Security benefits even though they don't come from the JDPriestly Dec 2012 #79
God damn soooooo right. Too far right. xtraxritical Dec 2012 #81
DURec! bvar22 Dec 2012 #82
That's a good way to put it Canuckistanian Dec 2012 #84
I completely agree adieu Dec 2012 #85
Can't help but agree. Shrike47 Dec 2012 #86
How much is the total discretionary budget? andym Dec 2012 #87
A truly excellent article - spread it FAR AND WIDE Ian62 Dec 2012 #90
+++ Sancho Dec 2012 #91
Agreed. Phentex Dec 2012 #92
It's long past time to dismantle the empire FlyByNight Dec 2012 #93
yes cut the military till it stays in America! Civilization2 Dec 2012 #94
And.....? Iggy Dec 2012 #95
So true! another_liberal Dec 2012 #96
I wonder how much of that Operations and Maintenance goes to the oil industry. valerief Dec 2012 #97
Great! as long as _none_ of the cuts come from veterans benefits. Agony Dec 2012 #99
It would not be dfficult sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #100
Yes, it would be easy to save large amounts in operations & procurement Ian62 Dec 2012 #131
All this stuff sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #135
Absolutely! nt ladjf Dec 2012 #101
Absolutely agree! Owl Dec 2012 #103
This is why no deal is best. ProSense Dec 2012 #104
No it doesn't Ian62 Dec 2012 #132
Hi, do you have a link for the diagrams please? Rosa Luxemburg Dec 2012 #107
This 4 minute YouTube video should be required viewing for all Americans. CrispyQ Dec 2012 #108
Thank you november3rd Dec 2012 #111
first of all, there is still one war going. Second lemme educate you as a soldier... pasto76 Dec 2012 #109
+1. CrispyQ Dec 2012 #116
K&R nt. abelenkpe Dec 2012 #112
I don't see debt retirement, interest on debt. Rolled in with military? Festivito Dec 2012 #113
Good points /nt think Dec 2012 #114
There's also 38 billion in increased Social Security costs from vetrans who can't grahamhgreen Dec 2012 #122
And, that would raise that 60%, AND, we the NON-rich have to pay for it. Festivito Dec 2012 #123
As a federal worker I have been stating the same fact for YEARS,, benld74 Dec 2012 #115
another rec and kick. n/t BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2012 #118
I can't help thinking of the contrast between Britain and Norway Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #120
A very good point Ian62 Dec 2012 #133
At the very least, bill Big Oil for the US military's "muscle" to get their product to market. Old and In the Way Dec 2012 #128
Sickening. Arugula Latte Dec 2012 #129
+ trillions...K&R! n/t AntiFascist Dec 2012 #134
Amen again. Cannot kick this enough times. nt woo me with science Dec 2012 #138
Keeping it up top. nt woo me with science Dec 2012 #139
kick No Compromise Dec 2012 #140
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