Most of our volunteers in the military joined to have a paycheck and benefits that being poor in urban or rural America wouldn't guarantee...I served with people in the military who came from pretty dire backgrounds economically. It's always been a big draw to join and have shelter, healthcare, clean clothes, 3 square meals a day and GI Bill education and perks when you retired. It's an age old story...my uncles all came out of the great depression and jump started their careers after joining the military during WWII. ..the military industrial complex is a huge segment of our national economy, like it or not.
Feeding America's military industrial complex to the detriment of our own U.S. citizens and country should be unacceptable to all of us. Yet, clearly it is not.
Actually military bases and the families that live there and the people who have small businesses there thrive from that money...it gets spent on housing, education goods and entertainment, etc in places like Adak Alaska or Coronado Island....Hawaii ...on and on. Military personel circulate money that ends up boosting economies, not limiting them Car dealers thrive in San Diego where Sailors and Marines ship in and out all the time...always new customers. Same with manufacturing plants. They thrive where there are military contracts...none of this is new to the world since the industrial age, it's not really something folks would normally politicize.
I don't find it acceptable that both democrats and republicans add more to our military budget, year after year, yet won't spend money on America's crumbling infrastructure nor on our mental health care, nor our schools, etc. . Dropping bombs across this planet shouldn't take priority over America, nor Americans. We have too many people living on our streets to justify literally spending billions more on our military all of the time while ignoring our obligations to Americans. I am saying: Some military contractor, and his next yacht, shouldn't take priority over America. Period.
Road Ratt, What do all these things have in common? Virtual reality Internet GPS satellite navigation Microwave ovens Duct tape Super glue Canned food Freeze drying Jet engines Epi pens Blood transfusions Weather radar Stainless steel Ambulances Aerosol bug spray Penicillin Answer..... Inventions we use every day whose development was paid for with military funds.
Yeah, it's hard to hold people accountable when Trump pardons them. Manafort, Flynn, Stone, the coffee boy, etc. barfo
FYI - Biden-Harris Administration Announces $4.9 Billion in Funding for Transformational Infrastructure Projects
I agree in principle, however, building those things creates jobs. I agree that we could find other things for them to do, but we do also need to maintain a vast lead militarily. Military funding is easy because the process is already set up, and the mechanisms for reciprocation are built in. But I 100% agree that it is not ideal.
Republicans getting their bearings after star witness exposed as liar. They don't really need his testimony, which for a year we were told was heart of their case. They know Biden is corrupt so no evidence needed.
Warning, this will probably ruffle feathers. Concerning foreign policy only, we are in serious trouble. Between the countries Trump rudely insulted and threatened, and the countries Biden has politely stabbed in the back, we are out of friends. We still have some countries that deal with us, because they do not have a better option, at this time. But they are staying at arms length. No one trusts Trump or Biden. Want proof? During the 1st Gulf War. 42 countries formed a coalition, lead by the USA, to help one country, Kuwait. Today we have a crises that is affecting the entire world, not just one country. The Red Sea shipping crises. How many of our friends sent ships to help protect shipping from missile attacks? Only France, but because Biden took so long to make a decision on how to use our 2 complete fleets sitting in the area only rusting away. The French ship in the area will not work with our Navy. India has sent a large fleet to protect shipping, but is not working with our Navy. Same for China's ships in the area. Joe has also pissed off a lot of our friends, not just Trump.
Both Biden and Trump are isolationist. Honestly, Obama wasn't much better, from what I can remember. Everyone is circling the wagons and covering their own ass. Corporations control politicians who pass laws to take more from the people. So the people (poorly educated and barely scraping by) get pissed when we spend our resources overseas. They don't understand soft power.
Two old duffers one a wacky head case that wants to be a dictator and the other is really is struggling and should retire. You'd think we could do better with more options?
Concerning Bidens failed foreign policy, there is much to unpack. This post will focus on Saudi Arabia. For many decades there has been a mutualy beneficial agreement between the Saudis and the USA. The two main agreed on details were: In exchange for the USA protecting Saudi Arabia, and their oil fields. The Saudis would only take the US dollar as payment for oil purchases. This was a brilliant move by whoever thought it up. I believe credit goes to Carters administration, but that could be wrong. This move is the foundation of how the US dollar became the world's currency. If you want oil, you better have US dollars. Brilliant! Very early in Biden's term, he pissed the Saudis off. Believe it had to do with the reporter the Saudis assassinated. Biden pushed the Saudis too far. The final straw came when Biden made his deal with Iran, despite strong protests from the Saudis. After Bidens deal with Iran, Saudi claimed it made Saudi less secure, thus violating the long time agreement. The Saudis canceled the agreement, and announced the US dollar was no longer necessary to buy their oil. In addition, the Saudis started to play footsy with Putin. Not sure how deep this new friendship goes. What is known is, the Saudis bought oil from Russia, proping up Russias economy. Think about that for a minute. Oil rich Saudi buying oil, probably to resale at a profit. The problem is even bigger. Saudi has a lot on influence with other Arab countries. And, can put pressure on countries that need their oil. This was visible at the Oct Cairo peace summit. More that 30 leaders were invited to discuss the 2 week old Gaza war, including Biden. Just before Bidens plane landed. The summit was postponed. Excuse, a Gaza hospital was bombed. This should of sparked more talks, not postponed them. Biden hung around Israel for a while. Almost as soon has his plane took off for the return trip, the summit was back on. The Arab countries, influenced by the Saudis, had shut Biden out of the Summit. A low level US representive did attend the meeting, but was not given the chance to speak. Not sure if there is a stronger sign of how much damage Biden has done to foreign relations. When many countries will not talk with him. Totally disrespecting Biden.
I think you are confusing two different events. The event that was cancelled due to the hospital bombing was a meeting in Jordan " with Jordan's King Abdullah II, Egypt's El-Sissi and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Arab leaders called off the meeting following the hospital explosion." Not exactly an unusual way to lodge a diplomatic protest. The Cairo Peace Summit was a different event on a different date (and in Egypt, obviously). It wasn't called off and then reinstated. It was our choice not to send high-level people to that one. Saudis had nothing to do with it. barfo
Yes, the Jordan meeting with 3 leaders was cancelled. As for the why, the published reason makes no sense. There was no security risk. It was a cover story so they would not talk to Joe, but give Joe a face saving excuss. The Cairo summit, with 30+ leaders, was announced just as the wheels on airforce 1 left the ground. One day after the Jordan meeting, that did not happen.
It's a typical way to express diplomatic disapproval. Not sure who said it was because of security risks, Jordan's PM explicitly said it was cancelled because of Israel's actions in Gaza. "Safadi said the meeting would be held at a time when the parties could agree to end the "war and the massacres against Palestinians", blaming Israel with its military campaign for pushing the region to "the brink of the abyss."" No. Invitations to the Cairo summit went out Oct 15th, before Biden went to Israel on the 18th. Not sure where you are getting your information, but you should put that source on probation. barfo
