Chart o'the day: World Military Spending

[Tinysmasher]

Originally Posted by lost in melb.

Just imagine if you put even 10% of that money towards something worthwhile and domestic.

standard bleeding heart rehetoric

we put far more than 10% of this money towards domestic welfare

also, we provide stability for the globe with this money, which allows ours (and our allies) economies to flower & grow

since WW2 when the U.S. started our policies of intenational police, there hasn't really been a major war. we've kept all wars to small-medium.

whats that worth? I'm not sure. I'm not even sure I want us to do it. But our success has been undeniable.

[marquis]

Originally Posted by Harpoon

Yeah, You have to look at standard/cost of living in the equation..

Most Western European standards of living are at least as high as those in the US,in some cases considerably higher.It's difficult to equate because of lifestyle differences and exchange rates of course.Europeans are taxed higher but in turn need to spend less of their own money on certain provisions such as health care.

[AnthemZ]

Originally Posted by marquis

Most Western European standards of living are at least as high as those in the US,in some cases considerably higher.It's difficult to equate because of lifestyle differences and exchange rates of course.Europeans are taxed higher but in turn need to spend less of their own money on certain provisions such as health care.

And that is the result of Europe spending it's own money to protect itself during the cold war??

[marquis]

Originally Posted by AnthemZ

And that is the result of Europe spending it's own money to protect itself during the cold war??

I don't think that,even if true, would be relevant.Military spending isn't as expensive as it appears, much of it (I understand about 70%) is spent on wages for example and not only do the recipients pay taxes with these they also buy local goods and services.It keeps manufacturers in business and helps employment.

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by Tinysmasher

also, we provide stability for the globe with this money, which allows ours (and our allies) economies to flower & grow

When military strength ensures peace, yes, you're quite right. But when its used for adventurism, it does just the opposite

Has the Iraq War provided stability?

Military power is best used, when used (infrequently) to win small wars (quickly). That's something Bismarck knew, and which the Kaiser ignored

[TheLancinator]

Originally Posted by marquis

I don't think that,even if true, would be relevant.Military spending isn't as expensive as it appears, much of it (I understand about 70%) is spent on wages for example and not only do the recipients pay taxes with these they also buy local goods and services.It keeps manufacturers in business and helps employment.

So you honestly believe that if the United States pulled out of NATO today and told all the other countries they now have to fend for themselves that it wouldn't have an effect on the economies of those nations that now had to fully defend themselves?

[Sertes]

I can't see Israel military spending in the chart, is it included in the United States portion?

[deepsepia]

Originally Posted by Sertes

I can't see Israel military spending in the chart, is it included in the United States portion?

No, included in Middle East/North Africa -though foreign military assistance might be in the US portion, I don't know though. Good question. I've seen an estimate for Israel military spending of $10 billion. US foreign military assistance to Israel is large $2-3 billion maybe?

Saudi spends a lot more -- $25 billion or so. Iran spends much less, but seems to get a lot of "bang for the buck" (measured by achieving their political/strategic goals.

Originally Posted by TheLancinator

So you honestly believe that if the United States pulled out of NATO today and told all the other countries they now have to fend for themselves that it wouldn't have an effect on the economies of those nations that now had to fully defend themselves?

Does that mean that you think that if the US spent less money on defense, that would have a positive effect on our economy?

[TheLancinator]

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Does that mean that you think that if the US spent less money on defense, that would have a positive effect on our economy?

How could it not? All the money we expend on helping protect and defend allies...how much money do we spend annually on the troops in the DMZ in Korea? How much does it cost every year to keep all the military bases scattered all over the globe running every year? The supplies we provide to the various NATO militaries? That has to be a sizable chunk of our military expenditures.

And don't even get me started on all the foreign aid we send out...

[Shotgun Styles]

I don't care that we spend a shitload on defense. I really don't. I care that most of that money is wasted.

The individual soldier on the ground should be getting a much larger slice of that pie for gear and compensation.

[JoeyB]

Originally Posted by Tinysmasher

standard bleeding heart rehetoric

we put far more than 10% of this money towards domestic welfare

Quoting: According to the Treasury Department's 2002 Financial Report of the U.S. Government, the total expenditure for social welfare in 2002 was slightly over 4 percent of the gross domestic product

Originally Posted by marquis

Most Western European standards of living are at least as high as those in the US,in some cases considerably higher.

Total fact! A lot of countries, particularly Scandinavian ones, fare much better in terms of health, health care, life span, education, and also higher in more nebulous quantities such as quality of life and relative happiness.

Remember what took down the USSR 20 years ago, as much as his fans want everyone to believe Reagan wrassled them to their knees, it was actually rampant military spending, leading to a cut in social programs, and eventual collapse of the economy and government. Kind of like the last 6 or 7 years in the US. Military spending is out of hand in the country, and the US is one of the most dangerously militant countries on Earth.

[treesmoke]

Originally Posted by JoeyB

Total fact! A lot of countries, particularly Scandinavian ones, fare much better in terms of health, health care, life span, education, and also higher in more nebulous quantities such as quality of life and relative happiness.

Remember what took down the USSR 20 years ago, as much as his fans want everyone to believe Reagan wrassled them to their knees, it was actually rampant military spending, leading to a cut in social programs, and eventual collapse of the economy and government. Kind of like the last 6 or 7 years in the US. Military spending is out of hand in the country, and the US is one of the most dangerously militant countries on Earth.

The USSR went down also cause the price of oil they were too depended on oil their economy was too 1 dimensional. And the leader of the USSR at the time was more open about the iron curtain falling then the ones that came before him.

The military is our prime export, also the best way for a poor person to move up in economic class. Ex-military seem to always be pretty well taken care of too.

I do think that other countries need to take more involvement in stabilizing the world or paying us to do so. It is unfair that we have most of our money going to stopping or slowing down wars in the Middle East and Africa to keep trade going while other countries get the benefits.

PS is the drug war another big part of why our budget is out of whack.

[JoeyB]

Originally Posted by treesmoke

PS is the drug war another big part of why our budget is out of whack.

I couldn't agree more, I was just talking about that very fact a few minutes before I posted in this thread. It's about pot and it's here.

[Mugzy]

Canada is nowhere on that chart!

[treesmoke]

Originally Posted by Mugzy

Canada is nowhere on that chart!

Thought you guys had the best Air Force in the world (the exception of Israeli pilots) or has that changed since the end of the Cold War?