Do We Really Need The Military?

I do agree that the military can be used to some extent for protection, and it does provide for the people living in a country with a large military some sense of comfort. But when is it enough? When does a military go from protecting people, to threatening people? Last year, the US spent $685.1 Billion in the military sector alone. (In other words 406,587,537.09oz of pure gold!) Money that could go to where it is more needed. Places like education for example, where the money could be used to build our county up, instead of breaking other countries down.

 

Imagine a scenario where the entire U.S. military was disbanded. Where its carriers, amphib groups, and overseas bases ceased to exist. Then take a look back at history, at the Middle Ages, the 19th century, WWI/II, and the Cold War. Then look at current conflicts and trouble spots in the world: Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, the Sudan etc. Do you think the future would look the same without the military?

I also suggest you look at Germany and Japan. Those were two countries we completely and utterly broke down, much worse than Afghanistan or Iraq. Look where they are today. Is it gurranteed to happen in Iraq/Afghan? No, but rebuilding countries doesn't happen overnight. I'm not talking about the justifications for Iraq or Afghanistan, just the possible outcomes in those countries. Too many people are too impatient and have extremely unrealistic expectations of the world.

 

Only to some extent? What else protects the country then?

 

It would be a horrible choice to disband the entire U.S. military, but do we need such a big one? Don't you think that that money would be better off helping people?

 

Our military isn't very big. It's the most technologically advanced military on the planet do you think that (*)(*)(*)(*) is cheap?

As far as active combat components we're one of the smallish sized militaries in the world compared to nations like China becuase they just draft in a million guys, give them old tech and send them off to die in droves.

We don't do that, we are the only nation in the world where a guy who gets wounded in the deepest part of the Korengal valley in Afghanistan can get on a helicopter and be back at a fully functioning hospital within the golden hour. How much you think that (*)(*)(*)(*) costs?

That (*)(*)(*)(*) is mass expensive. We do not have a "large" or "huge" military. We have a medium sized military that costs a ton of money becuase of our high technology.

We have a choice. Shrink the military to a useless rump or cut down on the high technology and send our troops into battle with rocks and sticks.

Your choice hippie.

Oh and any savings that would made from cutting defense should go to pay down the massive debt, not "helping people"

 

First of all, why do you think we have a super massive debt? Because of overpowered military spending.

Second of all I am no hippie, just a person who wants to see a change in how spending goes in this county.

Lastly, Maybe fighting two wars without a good explanation has something to do with our national deficit...

 

You cannot possibly be serious. The military is not the root of all ill nor is gutting it going to solve all of the problems. You could completely eliminate the Department of Defense and still run up a huge deficit.

 

Where were you in 9/01? I was standing around watching the polls show Americans screaming overwhelmingly for war.

So don't pretend like America didn't ask for this war. They asked for it, they screamed for Osama Bin Laden's blood and they were perfectly happy with watching our troops invade that (*)(*)(*)(*) poor country.

Don't even pretend that Bush just "did it". He had no choice, the American people themselves DEMANDED it.

As far as Iraq goes, every single politician both Democrat and Republican voted for the Iraq invasion except a tiny handful.

They did this because their constituents demanded it of them.

Maybe there are a bunch of youth in this country to young to remember and you are one of them, but for those of who were adults. The American People overwhelmingly demanded war and they got what they wanted.

Its pretty (*)(*)(*)(*)ing sick that so many people these days are now acting like they weren't right out there putting their flags on their porches and demanding war. Everyone acts like Bush just suddenly decided without any input from the American People. We wanted war, we got it.

 

No a bigger slice of our budget is medicare medicaid. Social security ain't to good either.

I am a firm believer in what Theodore Roosevelt said. "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." So i think it is important to have the biggest military in the world so people dont dare cross you but i dont think we should be the world police like we are now.

 

Okay so what do you tell the Japanese who have relied on us to protect them for the last 60 years? (*)(*)(*)(*) you? Build your own military up again?

We provide the protection for Japan so they don't build themselves into a nuclear power and engage in an arms race with China that almost certainly would lead to War.

What do we tell Taiwan? (*)(*)(*)(*) you too?

What about South Korea? (*)(*)(*)(*) you?

I mean that's basically what "not being world cop" means.. telling all of our closest most trusted allies "(*)(*)(*)(*) you"

We have made promises and one generation doesn't just suddenly get to change those promises becuase it decides to get cheap. America built the world order we have today, and it is up to us to maintain that world order.

 

Hey i admit what i want is idealistic at this point. Things are so tangled up right now with treaties alliances and our current state as the world police and occupation that we are in now that what is said at this point cant be achieved or at least would take a long long while to transition to.

I feel like we should worry about our own people and their needs first and do what we need to do for them. I hate it when our leaders put the needs of other countries before the needs of our own people. It is like a father putting his sons friend before his own son.

 

Also i must say we are not like an ally right now. I think we are more like a baby sitter trying to keep everyone in check. an ally to me is like a best friend he is there for you when you need him and if you get in serious trouble he comes to your aid but he doesn't try to micro-manage you.

 

Sounds a lot like the so-called social programs that conservative object to; only its social entitlements for foreign countries.

 

Yes, we are like a baby sitter because our entire standard of living, which is inextricably linked to a globalized economy relies on stability above all else.

A war in Asia between Japan and China would destroy our economy.

A war between North Korea and South Korea would damage our economy severely.

A war between India and Pakistan would damage our interests greatly both in the region and probably have some economic effects as well.

Its either baby sit, or go back to wearing animal skins.

 

The US already spends more money per student than any other country it seems. Money isn't the problem in that area.

 

Education reform is something we seriously need to look at the Euro systems and take a page from their book.

As I understand it the money follows the Student and the Student gets choice, and therefore the schools have to compete.

Unlike in America where a district is a monopoly and we all know monopolies, even socialist ones, are bad bad bad.

 

the military is bloated everyone knows that, they have these fancy technological weapons to use on cavemen in the middle east?

theres two big oceans seperating the US from any threat and its a nuclear world it is just there to satisfy the wealthy republicans ego whenever they feel like driving americans into unneccesary wars like vietnam, iraq , etc...for profits, power, bragging rights etc..

end dependence on oil and there is no reason for spending on an offensive military, that money can go to welfare

 

Finally some sense on this thread. As soon as I started it I was boxed in by people, who couldn't see that fighting TWO wars drains flood of money from our already long depleted reserves. Money that is obviously needed in places like education, and so many other places where they can help our country.

By the way, whats the point of a large expensive military anyway, if our enemy's have nukes...Oh yeah! I remember, it's supposed to make me feel better. Thanks defense administration!

 

There are three main reasons bad teachers become teachers instead of pursuing other careers.The first reason a science teacher becomes a teacher for example is because they may not have been smart enough to become a scientist. The second reason is because the pay for teaching does not amount to the pay that other careers do, that require smarter people, therefore teaching generally attracts people who graduated lower in their class. The third reason someone becomes a teacher is because they have always aspired to be a teacher, and it has always been their dream (these types of teachers are generally the best, the ones that provide love and kindness for their pupils).

Looking at the second reason, “the pay for teaching does not amount to the pay that other careers do, that require smarter people.” Then the key to fixing the educational system lies in paying teachers more. A higher pay will attract teachers that care about the education of children, and really know what they are teaching.

Hmmm...maybe money is the problem in that area!
But what would I know? American students rank 17th in the world for science, and a surprising below average rank of 25th for math. But that’s OK, as long as we rank 1st in confidence!

 

We tell everyone that they either have to build up their own protection, or pay us to maintain theirs for them.

There is no rational reason why the United States is paying a dime to defend South Korea against North Korea. South Korea has one of the largest economies in the world, and North Korea one of the smallest. South Korea can afford to maintain its own defense.

I agree that we can't suddenly cut and run. But we make it clear that Americans are not going to pay for the world's defense. And if these countries aren't willing to pay the U.S. for that protection, then with fair warning- 10 or 20 years- we should pull out.

 

Did it occur to you that perhapes the U.S. has a reason beyond "protecting" South Korea by positioning its troops there. The U.S. has relatively few troops on the border compared to South Korea. They are there more as a deterent than to serve directly as protectors. If North Korea attacks the South they'll also be tangling with the U.S. South Korea also provides the U.S. with a strategic base in the region.

 

Oh, I completely agree. The military is completely unnecessary. A basket of kittens would be just as effective. And considerably cheaper.

 

The Korean war taught us the danger of not having a standing military. It took a long time and a lot of losses for our military to relearn how to fight a war.

 

Because of Entitlement Spending, not the military.

You could cut the entire military budget to $0, and we will still have a growing debt. The military budget is only 20% of the US budget. Entitlement spending is 43% of the budget.

And the Defense budget is not growing, it is shrinking.

Entitlement programs are not even remaining the same, their expenditures are growing.

So there is your answer as to why we are in debt.

 

Wow, nice racist remark there. Those "cavemen" move around with the aid of GPS, and use cell phones to detonate their roadside bombs. And they use high tech encryption to send their messages back and forth on the Internet, as well as the Internet to spread their propaganda.

Not exactly primitve, are they?

Our highest technology is not used all that much anymore. Most of the fighting and dying is being done on both sides with technology that has little changed since WWII. Infantry on foot with rifles.

Most of the "technology" is used in trying to keep them alive. Encrypted radios, GPS, mobile hospitals, and the like. These are not fancy weapons, but they are expensive to operate and maintain.

Yea, those oceans really protected us on 9/11, and all of the other attacks, attempted attacks, and planned attacks since then.

And since you seem to believe that all wars are "unneccessary", then kindly tell us what you think the last neccessary war was. What conflict do you think was important enough to get involved in, wether we actually got involved or not. Lebanon? Haiti? Former Yugoslavia? Darfur? When is it worth sending in the military to stop things?

And kindly tell us how you are ending dependence on oil? Are you living in a cave, useing no electrecity, natural gas, gasoline, rubber, or plastic? Are you wearing nothing but animal skins and organic cloth?

And guess what. You can take the entire militarry spending, throw it into wellfare, and you will simply be throwing the money away. Period.