Military Spending Is Already Bankrupting America

You know nothing about military life. My parents did not want me to serve either. I had to drop out of college to do it.

But then I am man who made his own choices

 

Good for you. But alas that means less than nothing today.

 

I will let others judge what it means about you

 

I can show them the numbers. Start out with the following assumptions:

1) I've read that the average age of U.S. soldiers killed in the 2003 Iraq War was 30. Assuming each of those killed would've lived an average of 40 more years if they had not died in the war (a reasonable assumption). That means they would've lived an extra 350,400 hours.

2) I figure that for each 50 cent per gallon increase in gasoline prices I make one fewer trip to see loved ones per month. At an average visit length of 2 hours per, that translates into 12 hours per year that I do not get to spend with my loved ones due to the increase in gasoline prices.
3) Assuming that there are at least 20 million people in the same boat as I that translates 240 million hours per year of people deprived of their being with loved ones.

4) I'll assume the hours of the life of a soldier given his/her life ends are worth at least five times as much as my hours lost with my loved ones. That translates into the equivalent loss of one soldiers life as 1,752, 000 hours. Multiply that by 50 as I specified 50 centers per gallon before the multiplier takes effect. That makes 87,600,000 equivalent hours.

5) But, the projected 50 cents per gallon rise in gasoline isn't a one time thing. Assume it lasts for 5 years. That means the "lost hours with loved ones" for the non soldiers in the U.S. translates into 1,200,000,000 lost hours.

6) Thus when you average it all out, each penny of increased gasoline prices averages out as being worth the lives of 13-14 American soldiers. I greatly dialed that back in the interests of empathy and compassion to one soldier per penny of gasoline price increases.

7) While you no doubt consider it insulting to distill the value of human life to numerical values we do it every day in our society. From insurance to assessing risks on construction projects we make estimates about the costs in human lives versus the benefits.

 

That is absolutely disgusting coming from a man who will never be in a position to die for those beliefs because his mommy and daddy did not want him to join the military. You stand judged.

 

You certainly are harsh and judgmental. Don't know why you believe you have that right.

 

I am not in favor of sending young American heroes to die for corporate profits. That is the harshest thing I have ever heard

 

Why not? I believe it was President Coolidge that said "America's business is business".

And you've been specifying "corporate profits" like it was a dirty word. What about private businesses profits?

 

Its disgusting to send young men and women to die for profits. You never so much as risked a paper cut for this country yet you gladly will send people to die so you can have cheap gas. Disgusting

 

I would not say "gladly". You make the mistake of equating acceptance and belief with enthusiasm.
I'm echoing my dad's viewpoints. Who served 11 months of hard combat on the Korean Peninsula and suffered permanent hearing loss in one ear due to combat.

 

They get sent to die to make sure oil gets sold in dollars. Cheep gas has nothing to do with it

 

Your dad is a hero. You sat on the sidelines and benefit from those willing to serve....and you could care less if they die to give you cheap gas

 

Not true. I salute their sacrifice.
So to speak.

 

You dont get to salute. Put on uniform pick up a weapon and man a post. Then you can salute

 

It's a figure of speech. Which is why I said "so to speak". Surely you get that. And at any rate I'm too old to join any military unit aside from possibly a state militia unit like the one in Texas and I don't think most people take them seriously.

 

Yeah you missed your chance to serve your country in the highest way possible. When you are pumping gas just remember those that have died and had their limbs blown off so you can so cheaply

 

I salute their sacrifice.

 

You dont get to salute. Place your hand over your heart. Jesus

 

Neither do you. You're not in the navy any more.

 

You have so much you dont know

 

It is accepted protocol for a veteran to offer a hand salute with a cover on now

 

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Very interesting. I salute your service.

 

Disgusting

 

So touchy. At any rate no one is forcing you to respond.

 

Nor you