Do we really need this big of a military?

[TheSiege]

I get that we probably need the people, but do we need the equipment? I heard the F-35 program was a joke and a waste. I also understand that by building all this equipment it keeps Americans employed. I am just wondering what other peoples thoughts are

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Well, the genie is out of the bottle. Since we spent so much money building a giant military so that we could be the playground bully of the world we're kind of stuck. As soon as we're not the toughest kid on the block anymore everyone is going to line up to kick our ass. So we do have to spend a lot because we've made a lot of enemies.

That being said, we could certainly spend a hell of a lot less and still protect ourselves just fine. Cut the military budget by a third and invest that money into infrastructure. Roads, bridges, hydroelectric, solar, etc and we could still keep people employed. Re-purpose skilled labor from building tanks and missiles to bridges and turbines. It's just a royal bitch to cut military spending, even though we sure as hell don't need to spend anything close to what we do anyone that suggests it is painted as a commie pinko who wants to ruin America.

 

[Ruptga]

Well, if we tone it down how will we equip all of those rebel groups that fight on our behalf? It's not like the people that hate us the most are going to blow themselves up you know.

 

[brianmanahan]

yes

 

[olds]

Well, the genie is out of the bottle. Since we spent so much money building a giant military so that we could be the playground bully of the world we're kind of stuck. As soon as we're not the toughest kid on the block anymore everyone is going to line up to kick our ass. So we do have to spend a lot because we've made a lot of enemies.

That being said, we could certainly spend a hell of a lot less and still protect ourselves just fine. Cut the military budget by a third and invest that money into infrastructure. Roads, bridges, hydroelectric, solar, etc and we could still keep people employed. Re-purpose skilled labor from building tanks and missiles to bridges and turbines. It's just a royal bitch to cut military spending, even though we sure as hell don't need to spend anything close to what we do anyone that suggests it is painted as a commie pinko who wants to ruin America.

Don't cut military spending. Cut foreign aid and use that money here.

 

[FelixDeCat]

The military budget is mostly just a giant slush fund for fat cats, contractors and government workers making $200,000 a year.

The rest goes to soldiers, sailors, marines and their implements. Its too bad we cant spend our money more effectively.

 

[magomago]

i'm sure a lot of good learning came from the F35 - people forget that this is just a massive R&D project, and that isn't cheap, its incredibly expensive. You just don't "build" jets the way you build a car, and as tech gets more advanced, it becomes more difficult to squeeze out gains. If Lockheed is organized well, any lessons and experienced they gain from the F35 (either technical breakthroughs,FMEA style knowledge, operational knowledge, etc.) filter into its other existing projects.

Edit: of course, sans corruption via 1000 dollar toilets. I'm thinking of people designing, building, testing, gathering data, and filtering it back.

 

[Pulsar]

I get that we probably need the people, but do we need the equipment? I heard the F-35 program was a joke and a waste. I also understand that by building all this equipment it keeps Americans employed. I am just wondering what other peoples thoughts are

You realize you're asking a bunch of totally unqualified individuals to guess at what it takes to defend an entire country AND that country's interests abroad? Unless we've got a born and bred military strategist in the house, I'm afraid you're going to get exactly the sort of responses you would expect.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Don't cut military spending. Cut foreign aid and use that money here.

Why does it have to be either/or? Yes, foreign aid is a giant boondoggle and should be slashed, but that's a different thread. This one is about military spending and the US spends more on our military than the next 15 countries combined, most of which are our allies. Our enemy now is not a giant military machine like the USSR was where we need massive fleets, thousands of tanks and aircraft to fill the skies. Our enemy now is terrorists and our military is not designed to fight that war. We're pissing away a triple fuckload of money building up to fight an enemy that doesn't exist anymore. WTF was the F-35 supposed to fight even if it did work as advertised?

 

[IronWing]

The military budget is a jobs program with the added benefit of enormous payouts for the plutocracy. It is politically impossible to cut the budget.

 

[Herr Kutz]

Pretty sure this is a repost of a repost of a respost of a respost of a respost...

 

[pauldun170]

I get that we probably need the people, but do we need the equipment? I heard the F-35 program was a joke and a waste. I also understand that by building all this equipment it keeps Americans employed. I am just wondering what other peoples thoughts are

You heard wrong.
Remember the whole thing about fake news and blogs spreading BS?

 

[Paladin3]

It takes a long time to research and bring new military equipment and programs online. If we stop our military research and development now, it will be too lake start it back up when and if we do need it.

Sure, there is a TON of waste and inefficiency in the U.S. military and that's what we should be trying to eliminate so we get more bang for our military buck. Simply cutting military spending and ending programs because some of us seen no immediate need could leave the country very vulnerable.

And, as someone else pointed out, most of us are unqualified to voice an educated opinion on the subject. Most folks have never been in a fight in their lives, so they don't see the importance of being prepared for one. Considering how stiff the penalty for failure in a war is, I'd rather we stayed prepared just in case.

 

[lxskllr]

Don't cut military spending. Cut foreign aid and use that money here.

Cut both. Military should be used for conquest and defense. If you aren't gaining territory, or repelling hordes at your border, you're doing it wrong.

 

[Ruptga]

It takes a long time to research and bring new military equipment and programs online. If we stop our military research and development now, it will be too lake start it back up when and if we do need it.

Sure, there is a TON of waste and inefficiency in the U.S. military and that's what we should be trying to eliminate so we get more bang for our military buck. Simply cutting military spending and ending programs because some of us seen no immediate need could leave the country very vulnerable.

And, as someone else pointed out, most of us are unqualified to voice an educated opinion on the subject. Most folks have never been in a fight in their lives, so they don't see the importance of being prepared for one. Considering how stiff the penalty for failure in a war is, I'd rather we stayed prepared just in case.

That's all true, but it's also general and our situation is specific. Specifically, we are overextended and overspent across the entire globe. Our situation is not sustainable indefinitely, meaning there will be a time that we either step down or fall down and others step in. If it's inevitable, shouldn't we make it happen on our terms rather than stubbornly holding that line until the day that change takes us by surprise and we can't do a thing about it because we have nothing left to give?

 

[MrSquished]

Don't cut military spending. Cut foreign aid and use that money here.

Foreign Aid is a very small part of the federal budget. It's less than 1% of it, most of that goes towards health programs overseas. Most people think foreign aid takes up an average of 26% of the budget.

 

[lxskllr]

Foreign Aid is a very small part of the federal budget. It's less than 1% of it, most of that goes towards health programs overseas. Most people think foreign aid takes up an average of 26% of the budget.

We send $3.5b to Israel alone. That's ~$10 from every single American, tax payer or not. I'll take that $10(really, it's probably $20), and Israel can go fuck itself. I don't know why we're supporting a first world nuclear power. We piss away money like that all over, and I guarantee it's >1% once the accounting tricks have been removed.

 

[MrSquished]

We send $3.5b to Israel alone. That's ~$10 from every single American, tax payer or not. I'll take that $10(really, it's probably $20), and Israel can go fuck itself. I don't know why we're supporting a first world nuclear power. We piss away money like that all over, and I guarantee it's >1% once the accounting tricks have been removed.

I don't support every dollar of foreign aid as to where it goes, I don't think anyone will agree to all the places it goes. I do believe it's necessary overall in general. But it's really a small part of the overall picture - and I don't believe we should become an isolationist country either. Though less involved than we are now.

 

[Paladin3]

That's all true, but it's also general and our situation is specific. Specifically, we are overextended and overspent across the entire globe. Our situation is not sustainable indefinitely, meaning there will be a time that we either step down or fall down and others step in. If it's inevitable, shouldn't we make it happen on our terms rather than stubbornly holding that line until the day that change takes us by surprise and we can't do a thing about it because we have nothing left to give?

I think I spoke rather specifically:

1. Most Americans have never had to fight for anything, so they don't see the need for a strong military until it's too late.
2. If we cut our military too much and do end up needing to fight a war, it will be too late to start trying to build one up at that point.
3. The American military is currently rather inefficient and wasteful. Streamlining and optimizing our military will save us tons of money, and is a better way to stretch our defense dollar vs. just wholesale shutting research, operations and units down.
4. Very few of us around here are actually qualified to judge how small a military we can get away with and still safeguard America and her interests around the world.

I don't agree that the U.S. Military will eventually have to step down or fall down as the major superpower on the planet. I do believe we could better pick our battles, but who will bear the lion's share of keeping the global peace if we don't?

That said, if we are willing to deal with the consequences of doing so, go ahead and bring all our military home, downsize and simply secure the US boarders. We can become isolationists and see how that works for everybody.

 

[cbrunny]

Small dicks. Big guns.

 

[olds]

I don't support every dollar of foreign aid as to where it goes, I don't think anyone will agree to all the places it goes. I do believe it's necessary overall in general. But it's really a small part of the overall picture - and I don't believe we should become an isolationist country either. Though less involved than we are now.

I believe it's important. But not more important than our own country. Spend it here first and then if there is a surplus or an extraordinary need, then help others.

 

[twinrider1]

You want the truth?

 

[ElFenix]

I believe it's important. But not more important than our own country. Spend it here first and then if there is a surplus or an extraordinary need, then help others.

A lot of it is spent here first. F-15s are still bought from Boeing and made around here somewhere.

 

[olds]

A lot of it is spent here first. F-15s are still bought from Boeing and made around here somewhere.

I'd like to see more spent on roads and public transportation.

 

[ElFenix]

I'd like to see more spent on roads and public transportation.

I can agree with that