Costs of a global empire

bubblesmoney

What kind of a civilized society allocates 44% of the taxes taken from its people to war? Only 2.5% of your taxes go to science, energy, and environment. Only 2.2% of your taxes go to education and jobs.

Any doubt that the Military Industrial Complex is as strong as ever should be removed after examining Obama’s 2010 budget just put forth. It calls for 26% more in spending on Defense than President Bush spent in 2006. The Soviet Union collapsed in 1989, leaving the United States as the only remaining superpower on earth. Since 1990, the United States has depleted the U.S. Treasury of $7 trillion for spending on Defense. With no military on earth capable of challenging us why would there be a need to spend this much on the military? Over this same time frame the U.S. spent $360 billion on science, space & technology and $52 billion on energy, a mere 6% of the spending on killing machines.

***Unfortunately, the budget numbers can be a bit confusing. For example, the Fiscal Year budget requests for US military spending do not include combat figures (which are supplemental requests that Congress approves separately). The budget for nuclear weapons falls under the Department of Energy, and for the 2009 request, was about $29 billion.

http://www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-military-spending

http://theburningplatform.com/economy/war-pigs---cost-of-a-global-empire-1


something is wrong in a country that spends a mere 6% of the money on education and jobs but a lot more than*** 45% on killing machines.



i wonder what the situation is in other countries when military spending is compared to spending on education, jobs, housing and health. bet it wont be much better.

Cat695

I think you'll found alot of that money pays for technology......

If it wasn't for wars we wouldn't have such advanced medical knowledge

or the planes we have today

or some of the equipment in everyday use whihc otherwise would have taken years to figure out.

its not actually spent on bombs and bullets

Cleaver

Cat695 wrote: »

If it wasn't for wars we wouldn't have such advanced medical knowledge

or the planes we have today

or some of the equipment in everyday use whihc otherwise would have taken years to figure out.

As a reason for wars though, that's a pretty lame argument though isn't it?

A more modern plane vs tens of thousands killed in the Iraq war. Erm, I'll fly in the slightly older plane and keep the innocent lives please.

ninky_2

what have we actually used our armed forces for in the last sixty years?

here is a list of current deployment of troops.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4094818.stm

apart from maybe the 330 UN (not sure what these are doing at the moment), i don't see the point of the rest of them.

Cleaver

ninky wrote: »

what have we actually used our armed forces for in the last sixty years?

Erm...

Iraq 1
Iraq 2
Bosnia
Falklands
Northern Ireland
Afghanistan
Kosovo
Bad Lads Army on ITV
A job for a racist, thick, Prince

Cat695

Cleaver wrote: »

As a reason for wars though, that's a pretty lame argument though isn't it?

A more modern plane vs tens of thousands killed in the Iraq war. Erm, I'll fly in the slightly older plane and keep the innocent lives please.

I never said that war is declared so we can advance technology did I!

I said because of war we have had advance in technology.

And tens of thousands didn't die in the Iraq war, it only lasted a 4 and abit weeks!

They were killed in the aftermath of the war!

stephen163

Also, the military supports thousands of jobs. The knock-on effect to civilian suppliers must be huge. So really, it can be seen as a big public works programme to some extent.

mewbie_2

Cleaver wrote: »

A job for a racist, thick, Prince

More than one I think you'll find.

Looking at the Pie chart above I've decided to definitely be on America's side.

Cleaver

Cat695 wrote: »

And tens of thousands didn't die in the Iraq war, it only lasted a 4 and abit weeks!

They were killed in the aftermath of the war!

I'm sure the families of the dead on both sides will find comfort in your distinction.

Cat695

ninky wrote: »

what have we actually used our armed forces for in the last sixty years?

here is a list of current deployment of troops.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4094818.stm

apart from maybe the 330 UN (not sure what these are doing at the moment), i don't see the point of the rest of them.

Post like this so how people think......you need to think on a much BIGGER scale of why countrie go to war.

they don't just wake up and decide "lets have a war" as it costs far to much.....there is always a reason.....probably different to what we're told....but always a reason.

Cleaver

mewbie wrote: »

More than one I think you'll find.

Looking at the Pie chart above I've decided to definitely be on America's side.

I felt really stupid seeing that pie chart. If you had asked me what the total tax spending on military was in America I would have plumped for about 10%. I find the actual figure of 44% quite amazing.