US Military Spending

[LUVJONZ99]

Would like to see if not done by you previously, a video on the BRAC initiative and closing of Fort Monmouth in NJ.

[lerch25]

The department of defense. how ironic it is that the organization that is supposed to protect us is actually our biggest threat.

[TalladegaTom]

This video is like a fine wine. It only gets better with age.

I only wish it were obsolete, but it remains solid.

An F-22 costs $227 million. That's per aircraft.

Just to upgrade the software for the 183 of 'em we already have will cost the American taxpayer 8 Billion!

Military spending is out of control and is now fully operated by those who stand to profit the most.

A quick read at wiki on the F-22 will provide the necessary references if folks doubt those numbers.

[zebra9479974]

@Iluvmychick94 That old man is giving you facts. The truth of the matter is that soldiers such as yourself aren't used to protect my freedom, but you are used to protect profits for companies like BP. And before you jump to any conclusions, please note that I find individual soldiers such as yourself to be honorable, but you are not the one calling the shots regarding the size and use of the military.

[Darusdei]

how much do you get paid in the military on avarage?

[TalladegaTom]

Agreed.

What can we do about it?

Seriously, I really can't come up with anything tangible other than everyone simply refusing to fight, even if drafted.

It either destroys itself and takes us with it, or we come up with some intelligent politicians who are willing to put people ahead of money, power and greed.

[radiohogan]

@TalladegaTom

Empires change when they go bankrupt. National and international bankruptcy appears to be the only possibility of change.

[ChrisXCXCX]

The military budget is outrageous. We need to pull our troops out, Then cut the military budget by 25-50%. If you depend on the military for a paycheck. O well, Welcome to the private sector, It will happen it has to within the next 10 years.

[pelicanmouse]

Thank you for speaking of this atrocity simply , clearly and passionately . It is tragic that such a beautiful , daring and noble dream - The United States of America - has become a nightmare ... I hate to admit my belief that there is no hope , no turning back . The American experiment is out of control - beyond help. The whole thing makes me angry and sad ... Where will we be in 5 years ?!?!?!!?? Evan Dando

[cris750]

Let me also add: The US has much resources compared to the EU nations. If the US used their resources WISELY it would transform the globe. No other nation on Earth could transform the world like the US !!!

[cris750]

Look at the pie chart for 2008 National Priorities project, Inc. !

[Millhouserock]

You are wrong. What America needs is less services and benefits from the feds. By the way, you obviously havent done much research or traveled to Western Europe to see the differences.

[radiohogan]

I lived in Europe (Holland) for 8 years.

[ChrisXCXCX]

I love the military and support it. But lets be honest. I would say tons of jobs in the U.S are falsely created by our government starting false wars, and defense contracts. Whats going to happen to our Hero's when even they dont get a pay check? Were doomed!

[ChrisXCXCX]

I support the people in the military/folks willing to put there life's on the line. But nobody's life is worth the current war effort. Not what our government is doing to our 18 year old kids by killing them off in useless dumb wars. Im predicting a Russia/Soviet union type collapse, Once everyone stops getting a check. Poof, there goes the cookie!

[Commonsense11111]

foreign aid is 1-2 percent of our budget your point on military budget is a good one, but you hurt it a bit not being forthcoming

[thesepipesRclean]

Conservatives are definately anti intellectual . Dep of Defense will cost us 587billion next year , then you have to add in Dep of Veteran Affairs and the Dep of Health &Human Services . This comes to about 50% of our annual budget . If you add the drug war at over $ 5,000 per second and the Homeland Security , you get over 65% of our total budget .The Pentagon could not account for 25% of its budget last year , so they got a 4% raise .

[valhala56]

Great vid, it's kinda of funny now that the formerly conservative people who bad mouthed social programs are the first in line at the Unemployment office when the economy exceeded job loss's of over 500,000 a month.

My sister an arch conservative after losing her job told me Unemployment was private insurance. I didn't bother to argue with her.

[TigerClaws12894]

I thought the number was 58%

[ColeLite]

What did this dumbass do for a living?

[radiohogan]

Mon Cher ColeLite:

Are you referring to the producer of this video? If so, Monsieur Hogan was a peddler like his father and grandfather before him. His grandfather, Michael, owned two farms in Ireland and sold racing dogs and racehorses. His father, Edmund, became a multimillionaire in America selling automobiles, while Michael Hogan sold large mainframe computers for the IBM Co., and other hi tech firms.

Investments provided early retirement in Europe (8 years).

All the Best / The Dumbass

[ColeLite]

RadioPiggen: Well you should be a professor in a state University. You have the leftwing bent of a Jew and the brains of an Irishman.

The best to you too.

[radiohogan]

Dear ColeLite:

Please view my video entitled: My Four Rabbis," to better understand my background.

Unfortunately, there are very few "leftwing" folks of any persuasion in America, so complete has been the propaganda and political cleansing: imprisonment, deportations, breakins at Socialist Party offices, murders by G-men, etc. We are, according to Noam Chomsky, the most thoroughly propagandized people to have ever existed: more then the Russians under Stalin or the Germans under Goebbels.

[ColeLite]

RadioHogwash: The most propaganda today is conducted by the public school system. It is decidedly leftwing. A cursory look at the NEA objectives would reveal that.

[radiohogan]

While I agree the public school system is a failure that propagandizes students, I see it as promoting jingoism, xenophobia and fascism. What "left wing" propaganda do you see?

[Millhouserock]

Look back in history. Look real hard and you will see that 99% of tyranical leaders were left wing. They were extreme left wing, there is no arguing that. just ask me to and I will send you more proof than you can handle.

[radiohogan]

Yes, I would like something more substantial then your opinion.

[ragnasock]

@Millhouserock What utter nonsense

[Millhouserock]

Wow, you are showing your true colors as a complete idiot. I sure am glad there aren't people actually paying attention to you. Nom Chomsky? Really?! HA HA HA HA

[radiohogan]

What have you got against Noam?

[radiohogan]

Why do you assume a Jew and an Irishman can't be one and the same? There have been Jews in Ireland since the 14th Century. One of James Joyce's main characters in his book, Ulysses, is a Jew - Leopold Bloom. Then there was a Jewish Mayor Briscoe of Dublin.

[ColeLite]

Sorry, I just can't bear to think how physically repulsive a Jewish Irishman would be!

[radiohogan]

When flying first class to a cousin's ordination in Ireland, I spent the flight drinking fine whiskey with Orthodox Irish Jews. Keep an open mind, Irish Jews are exceptionally good company.

[radiohogan]

Please do me a favor. Tell us what it is about my video you disagree with? What is it you consider left wing? Aren't Conservatives upset about government waste and abuse?

Wasn't it 5 star General (& President) Dwight David Eisenhower whose farewell speech denounced the "Military Industrial Complex?" Didn't President George Washington warn the nation against maintaining a standing army? Were Washington & Eisenhower Commies and/or Jews?

[ColeLite]

Radiobacon: Who cares about a "conservative" like Eisenhower! You really don't know what a conservative is fatso. And Washington... he would vomit in your lap for what you advocate.

[radiohogan]

You may wish to read history. Please start with Washington's Farewell Address at Fraunces Tavern in NYC.

You can't be a Conservative. Conservatives are not Anti Intellectuals.

[ColeLite]

RadioHogSlop: If anti-intellectual means I won't have serious discourse with a bent and obsessive blowhard then I'm a Nazi! (By the way genius, I never wrote that I was a conservative. You really got to tighten up) Best, Colelite

[radiohogan]

Dear Colette:

How would you describe your politics?

Live and Be Well / Mike Hogan

[ColeLite]

RadioHogirth: I'm a racist, sexist, Thomas Jefferson-loving conservative who loved Ronald Reagan and despises every noteworthy Republican, since his administration. I think Negroes are out of control,women shouldn't vote, government employees are expensive and worthless, Jews are politically disgraceful and I never met an intelligent Irishman in my life (though I would never say that to their face). Best, ColeLite

[radiohogan]

Confusing!

[ColeLite]

RadioHag: I've reviewed a couple of your videos, you confusion is chronic.

[radiohogan]

Please elaborate.

[pelicanmouse]

@ColeLite  you are trying to be funny / outrageous for laughs , right ?

[slr1008]

right firstly for the tenth time....i didnt call the unemployed idiots....secondly people commit suicide regardless of whether or not they go to war....some countries in europ have ridiculasly high suicide rates...thirdly you shouldnt listen to me or that chomsky.....read the facts and then think of a logical solution YOURSELF, use your own mind and stop quoting other people.....your far too narrow minded for me to appeal to you....im just glad theres not many people like you

[radiohogan]

Part 1:

Please allow me to quote you in a comment you made above: "--- another group of idiots without jobs..." What do you make of your own statement? As I read it, you are referring to the unemployed as idiots? If not, who were you calling "idiots?" What entitles you to demean anyone by referring to them as idiots?

In a later comment you reiterated your insult to mankind: "...oh and i can call folks idiots based on simple observations...." How did you get so haughty and arrogant?

[radiohogan]

Part 2:

So, you are a student who does not believe in reading and references. Are you a know nothing?

Psychiatrists claim 90% of all communication is projection. Therefore, when you say I am "--- narrow minded ---," are you really referring to yourself? Think about it.

The propaganda press in America asserts that Iraq veterans are killing themselves in numbers far higher then the general population because of the horrors they committed in Iraq. This is confirmed by the veterans themselves.

[slr1008]

what? i dont hate myself or the position im in...i never said i hate anyone i said that at least a quater of your country are easily led and stupid stop changing my words to better suit yourself.

i didnt know that law so fair enough....but what about changing around troubled youths or if providing peace of mind to other half of your population who are scared of being atacked all the time....i am not propagandized....im looking at both sides of the story.....your propagandized

[radiohogan]

Part A:

Let me try to understand you. You refer to the unemployed as idiots, and you claim you don't hate the unemployed poor, working class and lower middle class who are unemployed. Is that correct?

You want to help "troubled youth" by turning them into torturers, mass murders and other types of war criminals; while exposing them to traumatic stress syndrome, traumatic brain injury, loss of limbs and death. Is that correct?

[radiohogan]

Part B:

You assert America's drive for Empire and the concomitant mass murders of millions around the world makes the American people safer. Is that correct?

According to Professor Noam Chomsky of MIT writing in his book: "Manufacturing Consent," 1989 Pantheon Press, we (the Western World) are propagandized far more thoroughly then Russia under Stalin or Germany under Goebbels & Hitler. Who should I believe, you or Professor Chomsky?

[radiohogan]

Part C:

The US Veterans Administration reports 18 Iraq veterans commit suicide every single day in America. Is this what you mean by helping "troubled youth?"

[slr1008]

"The fact that America spends 54% of tax revenue on the military"

i didnt say that was your opinion...the opinions im referring to is how easily you think that a whole country can put its military out of employment and then rely on military keyenesiansm....what about the good that comes of having a standing army??? when the fire service go on strike for example?? got to look at the big picture my freind i wish what you say could work

[radiohogan]

What good does the army do? Mass murder? War crimes? Torture (including the English army)? Imperialism & Empire? Crushing colonials?

It is illegal for fire departments to strike in America. The Taylor Law in New York State would send strikers to jail for long terms. In any case, the price paid in your example would be the loss of property by building owners. If insurance companies didn't pay off the owners would eat the loss. It is a price I would be eager to see paid.

You are propagandized.

[wuddychunk1]

I believe in the Austrian economics. But I`m open to other theory. If an ecomomy isn`t efficient and just prints money, then real wealth can`t be created. Of course alternatively we cound be protectionist and have a lower standard of living. I believe a big problem in the west is, we are obsessed with consumption and economic growth. We are all rich, have everything we need so we are pestered with marketing. After all if we need a thing we dont need to be told about it.

[radiohogan]

You assert all Americans are rich. Perhaps 30% live in abject poverty. This means about 100 million folks live in poverty. One needs to travel to mid America, Apallachia, & the South to see American poverty. An Irish Nobel Prize Winner says she never saw poverty as bad as American poverty in Europe. As one who has lived in Europe, I did not see homelessnes or poverty in Western Europe.

Conservatives such as yourself, hate the poor. See my video Why the Middle Class hates the poor.

[wuddychunk1]

That`s why they have the military power though. They trade that for the petro-dollar.

[radiohogan]

How so? How does America trade its military invasions for petro-dollars?

[wuddychunk1]

Japan makes cars, sends them to USA, USA prints dollars, Japan buys oil from the Saidis, the saudis put the dollars in the Fed Bank...

[radiohogan]

What can it mean?

[radiohogan]

The Military secures profits for rich stockholders and bankrupts the rest of us. It is another case of Socialism for the rich and capitalism for the rest.

See Michael Moore's Sicko to see how well the French live. All Western European countries live far better then America - so does Canada.

[wuddychunk1]

I can`t believe you questioning what the USA gives to other counties! China and Japan give USA the goods while the USA prints money. Your country is bankrupt!

[radiohogan]

You are correct. America will soon be bankrupt, if it is not already. This is a good thing, as it will end American Imperial Empire and the mass murder of millions.

[snickers180]

Isn't a large part of that number veterans pensions from wars other than Iraq? These statistics all depend on how you slice it, right? I wonder what the true percentage of putting troops on the ground is; how much can we truly save if we pull out now. That is what I am wondering about. You are right though, we do spend WAY too much!!!

[radiohogan]

Please Google the following phrase: military spending as a percentage of the federal budget. All your questions will be answered. Current military procurement and current wars are 36% and pensions (Welfare Queens)and all obligations from the past are 18%. I don't understand why you would think such a distinction worthwhile. It all stems from the Military Industrial Complex that is bankrupting America. Bankruptcy is a good thing in that it will end American Empire and mass murder.

[wuddychunk1]

No profits are made from government spending. A dollar spent by the government is a dollar not spent in the private sector. USA needs to cut spending and increase investment in industry. I believe your a socialist, so you will believe in printing money instead!

[radiohogan]

You are correct. I am proud to be a Socialist. James Connolly is my mentor. Please view my video on James Connolly.

I am also an anarchist who believes in the complete elimination of government and all military spending.

I am a fiscal conservative, who believes that all spending should come from taxation. The rich should begin to pay their fair share instead of continuing to steal from the poor, working class and lower middle class. I advocate a steep progressive income tax system.

[slr1008]

no military spending? i think thats a bit extreme there is always an acceptable medium and money should be spent on the military for security reasons....oh and i live in the UK and have family all over europe and it aint as rosy as you lot think....my aunts got cancer and her partner has to look after her and their getting very little support and they live in holland

[radiohogan]

I lived in Europe: Holand (8 yrs), France & Ireland.

[radiohogan]

Part I:

America has a large military to (1) enrich the Military Industrial Complex (2) maintain a very large Empire spanning the globe (3) keep the nations GNP high.

To lower military spending to zero:

1. Stockholders in defense companies would need to invest in alternative industries and military Welfare Queens would need to find alternative employment.

2. The Empire would need to be closed down before it bankrupts America.

3. There are many other ways to increase aggregate demand.

[radiohogan]

Part II:

You assert there are threats to America's security. Please specify what security threats America faces. Just list them and we can talk about them. Let's step through them one by one.

Our first president, George Washington, in his farewell address advised America not to have a standing army. He felt such armies entangle the USA in wars and would change America from a democratic Republic to an imperial (fascist) Empire.

[radiohogan]

Part III

Prior to WW II America had almost no army and easily raised a multi million man army to fight and defeat two major enemies on two continents. America could maintain its nuclear missles and mothball its fleet and air force, in the event of a future war.

[radiohogan]

Part IV:

As to medical care, you offer personal anecdotes. I prefer statistics. Over 50% of all bankruptcies in America are from medical bills. There isn't a single case of medical related bankruptcy in any other modern industrial country. All have some form of universal health care.

America's health care statistics are among the wost in the world. China and Cuba have better life expectancy and infant mortality rates, for example. In fact, Cuba has the best health care - Western Hemisphere.

[slr1008]

ok, firstly if the army was abolished as you are proposing where would all them people go to work....unemployment is high as it is taking away the jobs the military provides would just mean another group of idiots without jobs...

[radiohogan]

Where do you get off calling folks idiots?

In answer to your question, instead of military Keynesianism, the government could invest in civilian jobs. It's that simple.

[slr1008]

oh and if your going to use statistics...make sure their right...america has higher life expectancy than cuba

USA

total population: 78.14 years

male: 75.29 years

female: 81.13 years (2008 est.)

CUBA

total population: 77.27 years

male: 75.02 years

female: 79.64 years (2008 est.)

[radiohogan]

Source?

[radiohogan]

While there is a .87% (less then 1% difference between Cuba & the USA, there are 44 countries with higher life expectancies then the USA.

If America ever were to stop its blockade on all medical supplies and drugs to Cuba, there is no doubt Cuba would attain a higher life expectancy then America.

[radiohogan]

You were comparing your relatives in various Western European countries with America. 14 Western European countries have higher life expectancies then the USA.

[slr1008]

the sources is the CIA world factbook which is very reliable and regularly updated.

i have no doubt that a medical situation is better but i was trying to say it aint completly unfaultable......oh and i can call folks idiots based on simple observations....it is not harsh to say that at least a quater of the american population are so easily led on that they dont have a mind of their own.....you have very strong opinions and some of them are good. but not all of them are right

[radiohogan]

The fact that America spends 54% of tax revenue on the military is not an opinion.

Your referring to the unemployed as "idiots" illustrates my point in the YT video: "Why the Middle Class Hates the Poor." You have no compassion, empathy or solidarity with the poor, working class or lower middle class.

[slr1008]

what?? i dont hate the poor....i am the poor....im a university student from a low income family in a run down part of essex just outside london...your judgements are very poor, and the idiots i was referring to was as i said before people who are easily lead or cant be bothered...

[radiohogan]

A comment from a viewer in Canada made the point that working class folks like yourself ofter also hate the poor (i.e. hate themselves). The working class has been propagandized to "wannabe" the middle class.