How Defense Industry Will Fight Back Against Obama

[JohnRhysMusician]

The defense industry is a mess, I know, my family owns a lot of stock in multiple defense contracting companies. The defense industry gets a lot of money during wars, but it drops off during peace time. The federal government needs to make responsible long term investments in defense to be prepared, but instead right now we make big purchases during wars and then force these companies into bailout a lot of times, ex. Lockheed Martin.

[nudgler]

you all make good points regarding the jobs created etc.....but you forget 1 'minor' thing....the technology saves our asses

[666devilretard666]

LOL

the defence industry is well supported by the obama administration, considering a former high ranking Raytheon official is already part of his cabinet.

As a puppet of the NWO, Obama will usher in the age of one world government whether its by force or his compassionate speeches. Bend to the will of the NWO and I will assure you there will be no trouble. Turn in your arms and weapons when told to do so, take your flu shots. everything will be fine.

[trajan74]

Didn't they also say they were going to buy a similar NATO fighter to replace the Raptor.

[RequiemVortex]

Although you can look at a defence budget, of a country such as America and be astounded, there is very little reason why money should not be spent in this manner.

A defence budget provides lots of jobs, funds research which benefits civillian technology and of course provides the military with the equipment it needs to function and retain the lives of its soldiers.

I think the only people who have a real objection to military spending are pacifists.

[kabeerajameela]

They provide jobs, but with a limited amount of money, their are better investments. Greening the economy would also provide jobs but would have longer term benefits.

[Echo5joker]

Mostly agreed, but would like to note that we need to keep an eye on what the money is going toward. There are a number of projects that are political and not military in nature, which keeps the military from getting what it really needs.

More importantly, we need to keep an eye on what the defense contractors are doing. Do you not think there is a huge lobby to keep the wars going as long as possible? Why do you think the GOP never committed enough forces to the wars to win either one?

[BushidoBrownSama]

Seriously I was never against going to war with iraq but the timining was awful, ignoring Gen. Shiniseki's advise on troop levels was extremely costly in lives, stability world image and yes money.

Bush, Cheynne, Rumsfeld shouldn't be able to walk away scot free

[Echo5joker]

That's what happens when the politicians try to run wars. Bush had little experience from his short stint in the ANG, and the defense secretary is a bureaucratic position. So, none of them had the experience in warfighting that a lifetime in the military gives a person. If they really wanted to win the wars they would have let the military fight them.

Instead, they committed just enough forces to keep them going. They had profiteering companies lined up before the war even started.

[hint0122]

and how much experience does obama have?

[Echo5joker]

@hint0122

None, but he hasn't started any wars so his friends can make money either.

[hint0122]

no, he just pissing off our allies so they wont help us.

[hint0122]

so would obama be let free also>

[BushidoBrownSama]

@hint0122 I'm only interested in punishing the people i mentioned should there be any other decision makers who are culpable be discovered then obviously they should be tried. I don't see how the incoming pres or cabinet should be held accountable just because they didn't cut and run from a situation their country created; they have to do their best to fix it increase in troop level is the solution to bad we didn't the right troop levels to begin with.

[hint0122]

They all have a hand in it. Pelosi had a hand in water boarding, but when the tide turned she jumped ship at the rat she is. Would she be charged with it?

[malibuhur12]

I think this guy is focusing too much on what writers are writing about, instead of focusing on the fact that Obama is going to increase that budget by 4%, when we are broke, and he was supposed to be a "anti-war" candidate. I think this channel sucks!

[mrt110883]

I usually like Cenk, but I disagree with his analysis here.

You can find better cases of wasteful defense spending than the current F-22 program. A ton of money was spent in creating the technology, so the more of them you make, the lower your per-unit cost will be. If they created as many as they originally wanted to, they'd cost $100M each; they now cost $133M each b/c they bought less of them.

And strategically, this plane does keep us ahead of a rapidly improving Chinese Air Force.

[Realizalize]

big companies have PR offices and archives.

there are plenty of books and guides out there,

for oil-PR alone..., tons, plenty.

german-market-companies (very pro-boss)

institute allways comes out with figures about lowering budget of workers, but not one

of those financial-"guru"-anti-worker-a­ssociation-ass-clowns foresaw the

collapse, not one of those "I know all the figures the formulas, and their interpretation"

knew anything! ANYTHINNNGGG! .

[wdgeo]

LOL!! Let's just tell Pulsar he has cancer and, if he's true to his word, he will kill himself!

[pulsar00815]

our new liberal scum president has no idea how to defend America

I will call him Obambi

[wdgeo]

I'm watching you Pulsar! (if that's your real name!) >8^)

[pulsar00815]

what do you mean you're watching me?

you're gay and you wanna touch my schlorp. I won't let you

[wdgeo]

Does your mommy know you're using her computer again?

[euro944t]

Pulsar, worst Nissan made. The turbo was a blast, if you don't need to turn wheel or brake, or survive a crash.

[TimesEyes]

I was a TYT subscriber for a half year, watching almost every video, liking it very much.

Today Cenk is officially done. He's no better than Fox news. He's even worse. I didn't even know that was possible.

Obama increases military spending and this is the way to inform people on that? By giving him credit for taking on the defense industry? Unbelievable.

Obama is not taking on the defense industry, so don't make it appear so.

[hollywoodartchick]

This is how the wealthy get everyone invested in war - enlist intelligent and average workers to depend on "Defense" for their incomes. With the right political will, those same minds and arms could be used to produce technologically advanced transportation and a host of other useful improvements to our lifestyle. But that would not intimidate us and make us feel we "need" them to protect us from manufactured enemies. It's a giant scam. Expensive too.

[DameDiabolique]

I say End the Wars and Cut the Defense Budget in half or 2/3 and put all that money in Universal Healthcare and lowering taxes...

[Qabilist]

AMERICAAA FUCK YEAH!

[hint0122]

 yeah, keep living in your world. if we did that, we would be attacked and invaded

[DameDiabolique]

@hint0122

do you have things better to do than to reply to comments made A YEAR AGO

[hint0122]

not when they are the first ones I see

[judoyodan]

Read Eisenhower's exit speach if you wish to see how the military industrial complex either buys or intimidates its way around Washington.

Most empires fall because of overspending on the military.

Empirical ambitions always backfire. We are no different.

We already spend more militarily than the rest of the world, COMBINNED!

[euro944t]

Maybe Ike was pissed that CIA strongarmed him into one last U2 spy flyover USSR, a week before peace talks ?

And Captain Powers did not eat his capsule and was alive to tell world that Oswald defector that mapped U2 flights in Japan gave up his flight path for SAM turkey shoot. The U2 pilots that followed rigged a psi gauge on igniter, that they suspected was leaked out 1/2 tank before Power's mission. Plane dropped to exact altitude manual instructs to refire when tank empties........hmmmm

[He101A]

Defense industry is a vital part of any country, it employs the best minds, it employs a lot of people, it is responsible for the latest technological developments, sophisticated weapons are exported around the world, and national defense is a priority of any government.

[Chewy240284]

Pakistan is next baby wooooo!!....

[Qabilist]

Spoken like a true American aka the Obese.

[Chewy240284]

sorry, i had a some subtle sarcasm in my first remark. It does look as tho the 'War on Terror' will be heading down that path tho. Also, i ain't American or overweight, but this war is no longer a sovereign war, it's global baby. And there coming for U. (scratch that last phrase)

[alexmigda]

the defense industry? OH, they must be talking about the intimidation and invasion industry. I was confused for a moment.

[medaa25]

Will they ever ask themselves why they need an army in the first place ...

[ut00ba]

the world is being run by stupid people out for themselves without any thoughts about what the long term effects of their actions might be. Obama can try but I don't think one man can change that.

[juliact]

totally!

[TheMann2000]

Shit-can Bush's revival of Missile Defense. That's nearly $10 Billion that can be used for other stuff - like the F-22.

[highlander2107]

We've already put so much into it, it's almost functional. Let it be.

[Saikr0n]

OR BETTER YET! Gold rimmed toilet seats!

[aandreya]

excellent point Cenk

[Choopmans]

Why are their so many Gay singles adds in youtube movies above peoples profiles... :( Makes me scared.

[Jensagirl]

Don't take this the wrong way but maybe some of the profiles you are looking at are gay people.

I personally don't care about what other people do as long they don't try and impede on my life.

[grahamkeithtodd]

sadly these liars are all too common in Washington(D.C)...they would suck the farts out of a dead sparrow if there was money in it!

the republicans WANT Obama to fail and in a big way so the sheeple will vote these bunch of crooks and con men BACK IN TO OFFICE!

still most americans dont give a flying toss one way or the other!

[larsjake]

The sheeple are otherwise known as christians, the minions of the jews. They have fought all of their wars for them, and isreal is the 51st state! If we took all the christians, jews and muslims, let them have a country somewhere deserted, and they could fight it out there, the rest of us AMERICANS could get on with our lives! If this country gives up a little freedom for a little security, it will lose both(paraphrasing benjamin franklin) but it's true, they will take it if you let them!

[mb52787]

90% of America will be gone!

[grahamkeithtodd]

er most of the Jews have been KILLED by so called Christians and Muslims in ages past..so minions is NOT the word i would use!

and the Jews have there own country it's called ISRALE! sadly the USA gave up it's freedoms years ago when Bush the idiot took them away (Patriot Act ring any bells?) and you all sat there like dumb sheep and let him! for shame America for shame!

[osoblanco91]

i agree americans 2 day 4 pussy fied to scared to stand up 2 the government

[regreg88]

The government is not an enemy to be stared down. It is shaped by who is put in office. I'm also offended by your blatant generalization of Americans. Fear was achieved by distortion of facts. Ignorance is the problem, not fear, or being "pussy fied".

[flyingtorpedo]

Right now I'm just seeing more layoffs and no change, I know it's only been a month or so but I think things are getting worse as we speak.

[M3minusGrowth]

The US Military Industrial Complex is working in collusion with the US Federal Reserve Bank and has been controlling our country outright since 1946.

[TAKENnameARGH]

Lobbying is legal corruption.

I pay you and you do what I say.

If you refuse, I will tarnish your reputation.

[johnedwards1968]

The amount of tax dollars that go to military spending is OBSCENE! If you want to be a real "conservative" you should be pushing for cuts in THAT spending.

[tico8007]

true true

[PoliticalPhilosopher]

If you want videos that support REAL progressive politics subscribe to my channel! Well, actually I'm not that progressive,

that was a ploy to get you to subscribe. Subscribe anyway!

[bikenik]

The point of the story is not defense spending, the point is the undemocratic system of government where the defense industry buys off elected officials with campaign contributions and the people are hoodwinked by a media that spreads PR rather than real news.

Corporate contributions to political campaigns should be limited to $1000/political term and people need to take an interest in public affairs to get to the truth, then force their politicians to do the right things in all cases.

[donottake]

Just bomb Obama's racist ass, that is one way of defending the country.

[abi420]

MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX. Its the dragon that we gotta feed to keep it from eating us.

[jsadasjioi]

US of FUCKING A RULES IN THE MILITARY WORLD PERIOD!!!

[Lavizzle]

Except for when they invade Iraq when they meant to invade Iran (whoops!!)... then they suck at EEEEEEEEVERYTHANG...

[fsem10]

they meant to invade Iran....??? since when....

Lavizzle ur a SHEEP

when CNN says invade Iraq u say ok

when Fox says invade Iran u say ok

hence ur a sheep

[Lavizzle]

U R A SHEEP TO UR OWN STUPIDITY!!

US invaded IRAQ to stop production of, and seize WMDs, when the UN had already shown there were none there, which the US should have known since they sold IRAQ MOST OF THE WEAPONS THEY HAVE.

But they were also talking about IRAN's nuclear program, which was verifiably in motion.

So when they say "IRAQ has no weapons, IRAN has weapons, but were going into IRAQ to get their weapons...", I make fun of the administration by calling it a typo.

[Lavizzle]

Really, we all know it was about Pappy Bush and wtv wtv and so on, but thats no reason to be all militant in your ignorance.

and please don't use words like 'hence' when u haven't actually constructed a logical argument. It just makes it seem like u aren't smart enough to realize what logic entails.

[fsem10]

i didnt see that u were responding to jsadasjioi so i took what u said out of context...my bad

[jsadasjioi]

I don't think Canada could of done a better job if they invaded Iraq. Even though the invasion was a mistake, the Iraqi people live better today than they ever have.

[MopacMurtaza]

Bullshit!!

The Iraqis have been living better before.

Even under Saddam employment was higher, and electricity ran 18 hours aday, while it only runs 4 hours aday now.

[jsadasjioi]

Saddam was poison bombing the Kurdish up north. You call that better? People back then had to kiss Saddam's ass just so they don't get killed themselves. The wealthy lived better before but as for the rest of the people, they lived worse

[6Ott7]

Your mind is polluted by your tv set. You are nothing but a conditioned animal with no critical thinking abilities.

[l0gically]

On top of all this nonsense, the US has its own built-in obsolescence program. At some point, the current technology is sold to other countries (allegedly allies). This doesn't necessarily make it so that we *have* to upgrade our technology (now that other countries have it), but it sure makes a good talking point. And of course, the whole job loss and military superiority junk is just icing on the moldy and roach-infested cake.

[qanazir]

Let America loose those jobs and create some new ones making substainable energy.

[whitecollarcriminal]

I was the first person on Youtube to make a video AGAINST THE F22 RAPTOR.

Just like the Comanche before it, the F22 is nothing more than CORPORATE WELFARE. RAPTOR is a $100 BILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM where Lockheed is overcharging AMerica to cut back production from 750 F22's to 35 F22's.

And what's sad is, the F22 isn't better for current or future roles than the F16 or F18. ITs too expensive to justify its need.

WHO THE FUCK ARE WE FIGHTING WITH A STEALTH FIGHTER?

[piplemeter]

the republican party was hijacked by corporations who want to fool working people into paying the country's bills for them.

[totylee]

get em CENK~!

That's how u give them mother fucking news.

[Richardgwm]

Balance the Budget - close the Pentagon.

[Hyvaerinen]

Oh my, that was funny. And in my dreams true ... How much of the government bugdet goes to the defense, in percentage? I don't know the updated figures ...

[KidVolcano]

Haven't seen it lately, but it's huge. Well over 50%

[Pleblian]

The military logistics program is the single biggest contributing factor in waste, fraud and abuse and takes up almost half of US defense spending. The stock numbering system is retarded, why the military is cross referencing part number to military stock number is beyond me. I would just tell the company making the part, we're the costumer, you use our numbering system or lose the contract, period.

[chopwallace55]

That is how to tell the news Cenk baby!

[RadarKat73080]

"If you tell a big enough lie and say it long enough and loud enough, people will believe it," Adolph Hitler. Are we sure these guys aren't Nazis?!?

[dawnofdarken]

Yeah! we the America should really think about how to make a better nation rather than increase the military industrial complex to implode. We are spending more than rest of the world combined to Military. Kinda sickening if you ask me. Stupid warmongers sometimes drive the USA to the collaspe like the Roman empire at their prime.

[TheStickyNoteKing]

Right on

[P1ranh4]

Free press, huh?

[rollsthepaul]

There is no mechanism in place , to reverse corruption and the downward spiral of the USA.Acknowledging that it is happening is useful,only if it is followed up with the appropriate action.None of the needed actions are being pursued and the political system is bogged down in a quagmire that gets thicker by the day. There is no "they" to put the country back on track because "they" are too busy driving it closer to destruction.We are a society that creates problems and looks for others to solve.

[l0gically]

I think term limits would have been a great start. Yeah, yeah, I hear people screaming about these limits curtailing their right to free speech, but the fact is, that they're necessary to protect the democratic system. Without them, we get what we have now.

[swordmaster2k1]

Hitler, for being the bastard that he was, has an awesome quote that's even more true today than it was in the 1930's, "Tell a lie often enough, loud enough, and for long enough, and people will believe it." What's even more ironic is that if it weren't for Hitler, Hitler would've won World War II. Microcosm for the Republican Party? Maybe. But we'd be going through a metric shit-ton if we went down that path according to the historical model.

[zapponsalvia]

What's up with the comments on this video. Were you guys not able to find any Ron Paul vids to watch or what

[angryislander56]

It will be interesting to see how this poor bastard is

going to bring any change negotiating with

the utterly intractable while simultaneously being

accused of failing at bipartisanship.

[pulsar00815]

I think Obamba should line our border with thousands of landmines to keep the bitchass swarthy mexicans out. blow off some heads and limbs and those spitch borderjumpers will stay on their side I think

[p12psicop]

What if animals set off the mines? I wouldn't like to see innocent animals get blown up just trying to graze or forage or hunt. I would also reckon that if a minefield was planted, the Mexicans would clear it and pass through unharmed. Removing mines in a desert isn't exactly difficult. The soil is sandy and soft. They could just send animals over a patch of land and open a pathway.

[pulsar00815]

well if mines won't work then Mexico should be separated from the U.S.

just dig a wide canal the length of the border. finally build a 30 ft wall on our side and fill the canal with hungry sharks

[p12psicop]

That's a good idea because it would be much cheaper than allowing illegal immigrants to work here and get medicine and education. I'm sure that a 2,000 mile canal and 30 foot wall and many angry predators wouldn't cost much or take much time to build. I bet the Mexicans would figure out a way to eat the sharks though, with nets and guns, etc.

[shadowcnidarian]

You're a special kind of stupid if you're being serious.

The American southwest desert is mostly not sandy, it's rough, dry soil.

[p12psicop]

Hey there Mr Soil Expert! What exactly constitutes roughness when referring to soil? I have heard of loams, clay loams, sandy loams, clay and sand. I am not aware of any other description of soil. But, hey, I'm especially stupid you know, so I may not have heard of your rough dry soil variety.

[shadowcnidarian]

To be that technical in this case is not necessary. It's enough to say there's an obvious difference between sandy deserts and semi arid deserts like most of the southwest US, hence the sand mines comment was stupid. If all you've seen are cartoons you might think all deserts are like the Sahara in Africa, but it's not the case. That's my only point.

[p12psicop]

I have an idea to stop illegal immigration. Get the UN to ratify a treaty with every country. Make a new rule that says that all people that violate immigration laws will be deported to a treaty nation randomly, where they will become legal citizens of that country. Further violations would result in another random deportation. Do you think a Mexican would like to end up in Mongolia? or Vietnam? or Zimbabwe?

[minatorus]

that's a retarded idea lol, you really think those countries want some random illegal immigrant of random ethnic from some random country bred in some random culture?

[p12psicop]

Some countries would welcome the new citizen, others wouldn't. The idea is to discourage illegality. I guarantee that the act of immigrating illegaly would end immediately. It's not inhumane. It's not racist. It's random. The reason it happens so much in the US is because the illegals have a safe haven in immigrant communities in the US and the only alternative is being deported to their home nation where they can easily repeat their offenses.

[minatorus]

People gotta stop the fucking bullshit politically correct nonsense, KILL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS! PUT THEM IN GAS CHAMBERS AND SHOW THE ENTIRE PROCESS ON TV+EVERY CHANNEL!

[p12psicop]

And that would make you a pyschopath. Welcome to the wonderful world of psychopathy! If you have insurance I would suggest that you visit a psychiatrist today and let him know about your desire to watch economic refugees and their children die in gas chambers.

[minatorus]

sure...killing few million people to rob their oil is fine but when you gas illegal immigrants it's wrong...lemme guess you also think people should own guns but abortion is wrong?

[p12psicop]

Nah I don't believe in offensive war. I think our current gun laws are ok and I think abortion laws are fair as they are.

[CVKent317]

Sadly a lot of psychopaths now rule the world it would seem

[kaduisaui]

The smartest thing the military industrial complex did was put manufacturing facilities in each state.

[daydriLL]

thisfuck-tard is just worried about who is better democrats or republicans how bout post videos on how to solve it not just on how these puppet politicians play with our country.inform on how bad this is!

[marvelous2055]

thanks, now I know how to fight back. Hire thousands of PR firms.

[Gripen1974]

US agricultar policies and military policies are very simular to the policies of old Soviet.

Both of them are prob the worlds largest socialwelfare programs in real communistic way.

Soviet gave money and resources to farmers to grow there land and then burn what they grow and russia made more weapons and material that they had no use to just to keep the weaponmanufacturer busy.

USA can cut their military spending with 75% and still have worlds biggest military spending.

[Lobos222]

The only thing interesting about military spending is how many % of BNP is used on it and how "frequent" and in what functions the military is used for GEO political gain.

But that dosent mean we need rocket boots infantry. LoL

[kaimo09]

It's stuff like this that makes me hate democracy. It's good on paper, sure. But in actual practice it is the most idiotic way to do things.

[Lawlow1978]

and this is exactly why so many people around the world dont want a US style democracy, they know all this stuff how the public is manipulated.. how many times do u hear people say they hate our government not our people, the rest of the wrold thinks we're behind some iron curtain like in the USSR days.

But Americans look in horror at those who criticize "democracy" not knowing how much they actually know

[l0gically]

I think democracy *can* work - it's just that it has been derailed by self-interest. It's all about money - which ever elected official can bring home the biggest piece of the federal pork. And the elected representatives are "enabled" by bribes disguised as campaign contributions. On one hand, I guess you could say that everybody wins...until it's time to actually pay the bill. Of course, nobody knows when, or how this will happen.

[kaimo09]

You'd think wrong. It can't work. For one simple reason. Human nature. As long as we humans are as we are, systems such as democracy can't work. Simple as that.

[scaglietti03]

you know i think you are acually right, but the problem is if someone were to be on total power that someone would have to be smarter, wise and the most important not materialist as we corrently are.

[kaimo09]

True, and there are very few people like that out there. The closest I can think of are the monks over in certain parts of asia. Like the Tibet ones. But even then, that wouldn't work. Because I think that the world leader would have to be an atheist. An atheist that doesn't mind other people having their own views/religions/opinions. Cause, lets say a Christian was in power like in America. They'd shove their religious views on everyone else. But, oh well. I doubt humanity will ever be united.

[scaglietti03]

i think a guy like buddah would be a perfect leader for humanity, too bad he wont reincarnate again

[ddean1987]

he will eventually. Buddhism follows a cycle of lifes and the next one where the next buddha incarnate won't come for hundreds of lifetimes.

[kaimo09]

Heck forget Buddha. Give us someone like Gandhi.

[scaglietti03]

hope u are right

[quinn2469]

This is the best thing about the internet. This piece is something you would NEVER hear on the mainstream news.

[darealdjnutz]

Mainstream News = Corporate propaganda

[njb444]

Isn't this the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned of?

[KlavierPlaya]

It's very sad to think that a little less than 12% of Americans critically examine todays current events.

[1lawgrad]

i know someone who works for a defense contractor, and they make very good money for what is not the most difficult of jobs. the defense industry is the biggest waste of tax dollars.

[LAUGHATREPUBLICANS]

That advertising thing about gov't grants and ''Obama stimulus checks'' is a SCAM

It's the exact same thing they are trying to pull on the black community as ''Chedda blog''

Don't fall for this, and please pass the word.

[Bubba186]

you are too stupid to own a computer, throw yours away right now!

[ad2181]

These defense machines (F-22, AAAV, submarines and others) are not instant starbucks coffee. You can change your selection in seconds. These weapons systems take years get prefect that you expect. So talk about what you know, Radioless, can you explain how a basic radio works. Please.

[CarryANation]

The "defense industry" aka "military industrial complex" is the core of our entire economy. Our most high tech, innovative, internationally competitive, and most cutting edge manufacturing, research, and nearly everything else comes from the defense industry.

It is 100% Socialist. In fact, it's damn near Communist in parts. It has next to nothing to do with the free market, in fact, most of the foreign customers are government too.

Republicans are Communists.

[rborchers7]

Not undermining your statements, but HOW is the defense industry socialist, specifically?

It would make your closing statement "Republicans are Communists" WAAAY more cutting.

[CarryANation]

The customer for defense is the Taxpayer. The defense budget is centrally planned, by a handful of players, in the USSR they would have been called "Ministries" we call them Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, Boeing.

Of course there are contractors, subcontractors, etc., but it's ALL a centrally planned system. It's socialist, communist. And it works *extremely* well.

Obama cutting one real job in defense would be stupid. Cutting out some of the rent-seekers and profits would be good.

[l0gically]

>> And it works *extremely* well.

In what sense? Wasting money? Funneling obscene amounts of taxpayer funds into the pockets of contractors?

You realize just how pointless all of this is when you remember that Bin Laden, despite having *nothing* on the order of what we had, still managed to escape. And that we, despite our so-called "superiority" have managed to slaughter more than a million iraqi citizens. What about this actually *works*?

[CarryANation]

It works extremely well by making America the leader of high tech in the world, bar none, and by providing a stable core of the economy. Sure it's wasteful, so is the social service establishment you favor.

Much of the money in "defense" isn't directly related to defense, obviously.

[l0gically]

>>It works extremely well by making America the leader of high tech in the world, bar none, and by providing a stable core of the economy.

It's simply not true. I reiterate - Bin Laden was never caught. Further, if we go with the notion that *terrorists* conducted the 9/11 attack, we weren't able to prevent it. Second, I don't agree that military spending should be at the core of the economy. One doesn't have to be a socialist to understand that the amount we spend on the military is insane.

[CarryANation]

You seem to be missing the point. The "defense" industry is not just about defense, it's also about technology, the economy, and jobs. The defense establishment could have stopped 911 but they were prevented from doing so by Cheney et al.

Obama should cut out the rent-seekers from defense and cut the major pork projects, that alone would save billions.

[l0gically]

>> You seem to be missing the point. The "defense" industry is not just about defense, it's also about technology, the economy, and jobs.

Isn't it a little fallacious to suggest that the military is the *only* way that we can experience technological progress?

>> The defense establishment could have stopped 911 but they were prevented from doing so by Cheney et al.

How do you come by this assertion?

[abi420]

Its the hillbilly way of thinking, America can never be wrong, and when we are wrong we are actually right because everyone else is wrong.

[CarryANation]

so ... it is Socialism, run by the government, centrally planned like Communism. As the video explains, it is not even a pseudo-free market, where various groups would compete for contracts, it's actually centrally planned by the Congress and their partners at the defense companies (3-4 companies depending on who you ask).

That's communism/socialism - the government controls the means of production in a centrally planned economy, comrade.

[Vash1202]

But...the military is still funded by the government. If our government used money into directly developing technology, research, etc... then I believe that'll be even more effective than pumping money into military and maybe someday get a by-product that may or may not be beneficial to the common people.

My point is that the military shouldn't be the core of the economy. A governmental division solely dedicated to the advancement of all those things would work far better.

[CarryANation]

Yes, we should "cut out the middleman". First, stop Boeing from bribing politicians to support crap the military doesn't even want. Cut out the various speculators, rent-seekers, and profit-takers, and pay more to the engineers. Focus more on research. Spread the non-security tech the defense industry develops to other parts of the economy.

The defense industry in the US works GREAT for science and high-tech, and it's totally socialist. Just cut out the leeches.

[Vash1202]

That sounds very reasonable.

I'm just afraid if anyone tries to do the stuff you suggest, then conservatives will be accusing someone of being a socialist (as if that's a truly bad thing) because it's redistributing money in a way that people aren't used to (no matter how much sense it makes to do so)

So it'll be almost impossible right now as I see it for that to happen cause I don't think any politician would wanna risk it.

[CarryANation]

Yes and that is why the Democraps and Anti-Christ Obama suck so bad, they are terrified of Rush Limbaugh calling them "socialist" while the Republican Party is the US equivalent of the Communist Party. Democraps are pathetic cowards aren't they?

In reality of course, Obama is no different than Bush, and the Democraps are no different than the Republicraps. Change my ass. to hell with Obama.

[beeohhski]

i wanna touch you little boy

[Synopsism]

CarryALiveGrenade. We don't you your fucking kind alive.

[Synopsism]

need*

[CarryANation]

Synop - who is "we"?

... terrified of Rush Limbaugh calling them "socialist" while the Republican Party is the US equivalent of the Communist Party. Democraps are pathetic cowards aren't they? ... Obama is no different than Bush, and the Democraps are no different than the Republicraps. Change my ass ...

[p12psicop]

I'm just glad that everyone finally agrees and we can all sleep better ay night knowing that all of our problems are solved and everyone is happy.

[MessaicComic]

Basic capitalism. If the equipment isnt relevant it shouldnt be produced. What kind of conservatives are these?

[edmondov]

Defense spending is really for imperialistic ambitions, not defense.

[Xport9]

damn these fake useless wars, this is what turns out when you feed these politicians your money.

[Jackthemeat]

Good job trying to educate the great unwashed masses (Sheep)

[NYHeineken]

Damn I hate Republicans

[burntonion05]

So we spend over a trillion on defense and the 2 wars and the evil terrorists spend like a million tops. And who are the suckers? I think we should cut our defense spending in half at least.

[TokyoNiGHTS1]

It's a lot easier and cheaper to make a mess than it is to fix that mess.

[fivebythree]

Hello!!! :D

[rcevey2]

Does anybody actually ask the MILITARY what they want/need? Why are politicians deciding military policy?

[cinesimonj]

Are you kidding?

Not only do the military have representation in the form of THE PENTAGON, they also have LOBBYISTS for the hard sell.

[cg66079]

Yeah, and anyone with a couple stars on their chest is a politician as well as a military commander. They might as well have a seat in the House.

[WKaliber1]

Defense industry = the real terrorists

[EcrossH]

I agree. We spend more on defense than the NEXT TWENTY COUNTRIES COMBINED. We should have listened to President Eisenhower (a 5-Star, conservative general) when he said we should be EXTREMELY careful about a run-away military-industrial complex after it was established at the end of WWII. Since that time, our country has been CONTINUALLY at war, is kept in constant fear from "threats" by a defense-swayed media, and spends a LOT of money, far far farmore than welfare. We don't need them.

[WKaliber1]

the ironic thing is that the "defense" is actually making us less safe by pissing off the people in the Middle East

[abi420]

Honestly its not about how much you spend, its how u spend the money given. In this case those dollars are going to fuel illegal wars on top of money given to already fuel those wars, thats why people get pissed.

[WKaliber1]

well obviously if it was something worthwhile we were spending all this money on it wouldn't be that bad

but its not giving the country anything back

[abi420]

correct that, not NEXT TWENTY COUNTRIES, but the WHOLE WORLD COMBINED.

[Franco187]

Eisenhower:

"The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities.

It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population.

It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals.

It is some fifty miles of concrete pavement.

We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat.

We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people."

[XMADDMARSX]

HI!!!!!!!!