Wars sending U.S. into ruin

Spade

Ace Poster
Nov 18, 2008
12,822
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Aether Island
The question is, what are they trying to win in these places?

Granada. An exercise.

It's marges of the Empire. Barbarians are just barbarians. You've got to smack them or they get uppity. It's the 60s all over again, but now Selma's in the Middle east and Central Asia.
 

Goober

Hall of Fame Member
Jan 23, 2009
24,691
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Moving
Yep. Its insane. You can't have guns and butter. Make up your mind........

Raising taxes on the middle to upper classes would be a start.......spending cuts are absolutely essential.........

This can't go on.

David Frum: A fight the GOP might want to lose - Full Comment

More bad news: The U.S. health system, already far and away the most expensive on Earth, has taken another terrible cost jump. In 2009, Americans spent a total of 17.3% of national income on health care, up from 16.2% in 2008. Most other advanced countries spend between 8% and 11%. Second-place Switzerland spends about 11.5%.
These numbers bounce off the head, I know. So here are some comparisons.
If U.S. health-care costs dropped to Swiss levels, it would be as if the United States suddenly got its entire military budget for free, with enough change to equal the entire economy of South Africa.
If U.S. health-care costs dropped to Swiss levels, the US budget deficit would vanish as soon as the U.S. economy emerged from recession.
If U.S. health-care costs dropped to Swiss levels, the United States could afford to cut income tax rates by 80% or abolish its entire Social Security payroll tax system.
We’re talking real money here!
The latest cost surge is partly attributable to recession: U.S. GDP dropped in 2009, so even if health-care spending had held constant, the health share would have grown. But health care spending did not hold constant. In a year when spending on virtually everything else dropped, health care spending rose by $134 billion.


Read more: David Frum: A fight the GOP might want to lose - Full Comment
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darkbeaver

the universe is electric
Jan 26, 2006
41,035
201
63
RR1 Distopia 666 Discordia
The money invested in war by the US citizen is dwarfed by the money earned in those same wars. Where did it go? Look up on top of snob hill if you can see beyond the gates and razor wire. It's them you fight and die for, never mind exporting democracy, only a kid with a rifle and a new uniform would believe that.
 
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Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
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Ottawa, ON
Doom and gloom aside, I don't think it's over yet for the US. If the US could turn around and reduce it's spending drastically and increase taxes, possibly as drastically unfortunately, along with whatever government spending that's left going towards education to prepare the youth and the unemployed for the jobs of the future, it might stand a chance.

Indeed the US is nearing its Rubicon, but it hasn't crossed it yet, and it still has a chance to turn itself around if it wants to.

Canada should learn from this and start balancing its budget too.
 

Canaduh

Derailing Threads
Mar 7, 2008
304
2
18
Southwest WA
Doom and gloom aside, I don't think it's over yet for the US. If the US could turn around and reduce it's spending drastically and increase taxes, possibly as drastically unfortunately, along with whatever government spending that's left going towards education to prepare the youth and the unemployed for the jobs of the future, it might stand a chance.

Indeed the US is nearing its Rubicon, but it hasn't crossed it yet, and it still has a chance to turn itself around if it wants to.

Canada should learn from this and start balancing its budget too.

Too many people in power would loose out if this ever happened. The US has had so many chances to pass new Health care and tax bills its not funny, yet they always falter because the politicians have no guts. Its not as if they didn't know this was coming for the last 30 years...
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
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Too many people in power would loose out if this ever happened. The US has had so many chances to pass new Health care and tax bills its not funny, yet they always falter because the politicians have no guts. Its not as if they didn't know this was coming for the last 30 years...

Of course if they don't change soon, the US will become a poor country by international standards. All I'm saying though is that the US is not there yet and still has a chance to turn itself around before it loses everything. It's days as a superpower already past; that's clear. But if it turned around now, it could still e a world power at least.

Now the question is, do they have the will and determination to turn themselves around. You say no; I say yes. Will it be under the current administration? I don't know. But I think once the US sees the precipice, it will rectify itself quickly before it's too late. It will be a tough pill to swallow without a doubt, and it will mean the end of the US as a superpower. But I don't believe it will mean the end of the US as a world power. at least.
 

Canaduh

Derailing Threads
Mar 7, 2008
304
2
18
Southwest WA
Of course if they don't change soon, the US will become a poor country by international standards. All I'm saying though is that the US is not there yet and still has a chance to turn itself around before it loses everything. It's days as a superpower already past; that's clear. But if it turned around now, it could still e a world power at least.

Now the question is, do they have the will and determination to turn themselves around. You say no; I say yes. Will it be under the current administration? I don't know. But I think once the US sees the precipice, it will rectify itself quickly before it's too late. It will be a tough pill to swallow without a doubt, and it will mean the end of the US as a superpower. But I don't believe it will mean the end of the US as a world power. at least.

I think the US does have the will to turn itself around and I'd say they have another 10-15 years before things just get to far gone (Basically around the time all the baby boomers have retired and there's a massive money sink). But you're right. I have no faith in the current political system to do it, from either side.
 

talloola

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 14, 2006
19,576
113
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Vancouver Island
do you need a war for tanks etc., or tanks etc., for war,
they are in a never ending circle, they want war, to need the
manufacturing of tanks etc., so the economy doesn't
completely go down the toilet.
The u.s. is so stuck in it's own puke, it will choke to
death.
What would they do if they didn't continue having wars,
and the corporate greedies wouldn't have the profits from
the tanks etc., but the corporate greedies run the country,
so the wars will continue, it's really awful, and the
people have no power to do anything about it, doesn't matter
what party is in power, this will continue.
They will have to continue thinking up reasons to be mad
at other countries, and make sure their intelligence gives
them the 'false' news, so they can have their excuses to
fight.
Keep those tanks etc., coming off the assembly line, cause
the corporate greedies need to buy their groceries, poor
babies, we wouldn't want them to lower their bank balances,
below $20 or $30 million, now would we.
Wonder what Cheney's bank balance is now.
 

Canaduh

Derailing Threads
Mar 7, 2008
304
2
18
Southwest WA
do you need a war for tanks etc., or tanks etc., for war,
they are in a never ending circle, they want war, to need the
manufacturing of tanks etc., so the economy doesn't
completely go down the toilet.
The u.s. is so stuck in it's own puke, it will choke to
death.
What would they do if they didn't continue having wars,
and the corporate greedies wouldn't have the profits from
the tanks etc., but the corporate greedies run the country,
so the wars will continue, it's really awful, and the
people have no power to do anything about it, doesn't matter
what party is in power, this will continue.
They will have to continue thinking up reasons to be mad
at other countries, and make sure their intelligence gives
them the 'false' news, so they can have their excuses to
fight.
Keep those tanks etc., coming off the assembly line, cause
the corporate greedies need to buy their groceries, poor
babies, we wouldn't want them to lower their bank balances,
below $20 or $30 million, now would we.
Wonder what Cheney's bank balance is now.

Most calculators wont go that high.

They haven't even scratched the surface on how many no bid contracts he basically gave himself as vice president and ceo of Haliburton. So much for giving up private positions because of conflict of interest when entering public service eh?...
 

MHz

Time Out
Mar 16, 2007
41,030
43
48
Red Deer AB
That's why you should have the homeless running the Gov, they are aware of the perils. 4 years dumpster diving before you are ready to run for office.
The best thing for your economy would be a good ol civil war fought entirely within your borders, might as well include Canada and Mexico in the economic burst just because they didn't join up to stop you earlier. There must be something close to war hypnosis, most of the world would would chip in if ammo started to run low.
 

globegenius

New Member
Jan 11, 2010
46
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Matrix
globegenius.blogspot.com
Its a shame that our neighbor has a bad debt load. People here are naive. They have been protecting our borders for years because we are too cheap to buy any military muscle. We can afford our health care system because of it.
If it was not for them any small country could have invaded us and taken over. They are our biggest trading partner and with out them our economy would be in ruins also. Maybe they should bring all their soldiers home and protect their own borders. Forget about promoting freedom through out the world.
Women could be treated like second class citizens or worse in some countries. Looks like there is many here that would enjoy that. Every time there is a disaster in the world people cry out for the USA to help them. The problem is that they have been too nice and let every country sell there cr*p in the US market. People have no brains. They buy imported vehicles and put their neighbor out of a job.
Who buys the bulk of our oil and gas, lumber and manufactered goods? All we have mostly is raw resources in Canada. They have been a great neighbor and friend to Canada. I'm embarressed for the Canadians who trash the USA. We model our life styles after them and thank goodness they are our neighbors.
If you do not realize this, then you are an idiot. I do not agree with all their policies but I would rather live with their policies than N korea or Iran governments. How about our sovereignty in the far north at present?
We had better hope USA works with us or Russia could just take it. What would we do? Sit here and cry in the forums? That's about all we could do about it. Our 40 year old sea king helicopters probably could not even get 200 people up there so they could march around on an ice burg with protest banners.
 

Machjo

Hall of Fame Member
Oct 19, 2004
17,878
61
48
Ottawa, ON
Its a shame that our neighbor has a bad debt load. People here are naive. They have been protecting our borders for years because we are too cheap to buy any military muscle. We can afford our health care system because of it.
If it was not for them any small country could have invaded us and taken over. They are our biggest trading partner and with out them our economy would be in ruins also. Maybe they should bring all their soldiers home and protect their own borders. Forget about promoting freedom through out the world.
Women could be treated like second class citizens or worse in some countries. Looks like there is many here that would enjoy that. Every time there is a disaster in the world people cry out for the USA to help them. The problem is that they have been too nice and let every country sell there cr*p in the US market. People have no brains. They buy imported vehicles and put their neighbor out of a job.
Who buys the bulk of our oil and gas, lumber and manufactered goods? All we have mostly is raw resources in Canada. They have been a great neighbor and friend to Canada. I'm embarressed for the Canadians who trash the USA. We model our life styles after them and thank goodness they are our neighbors.
If you do not realize this, then you are an idiot. I do not agree with all their policies but I would rather live with their policies than N korea or Iran governments. How about our sovereignty in the far north at present?
We had better hope USA works with us or Russia could just take it. What would we do? Sit here and cry in the forums? That's about all we could do about it. Our 40 year old sea king helicopters probably could not even get 200 people up there so they could march around on an ice burg with protest banners.

^ to those who believe propaganda doesn't work.
 

gopher

Hall of Fame Member
Jun 26, 2005
21,513
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Minnesota: Gopher State
37.8% of the US economy is military spending.

Peace is the worst thing possible to the economy.


Conversely, as Mussolini said, a fascist state cannot exist without war. Being the inventor of fascism, he knew that better than anyone else. On that basis, what would he say to the words in your post?