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**soineeLom** · 08-04-2011, 11:52 PM

Well, that particular plan won't work, but your premise that the Pentagon budget can be massively cut is legit.
The defense of the United States can be accomplished for a lot less than we spend today. But the key is to re-envision the US, not as the worlds policeman, but as a citizen of the world, without an overseas agenda. Changing the world by our example of a free people enjoying the fruits of their labor, not a people laboring to outfit the most expensive military the world has ever seen.

I think you're right, it does involve a new way of thinking & seeing.

Adding to the difficulty of seeing the world differently is the fact that the USA has not heeded the warnings of President Eisenhower. He spoke of the military industrial complex & how it would be a mistake to have it become too entangled with our nation's economy.

There are & have been perpetual wars throughout the world & the US economy seems to be at least partially dependent on the presence of wars. Let's face it, we spend the most money in the world (by far) on military/defense, factor in defense products manufacturing gains whether we are involved or not & what do you get? Who would you look to? Doesn't it makes sense to look to the Country that spends the most (by far) & benefits the most (by far) when you have warring needs?

If we wanted to imagine the US differently (not as police but as citizen) we would have to take into consideration the impact on the US economy, unemployment & other factors.

One way to defray the damage or reducing the 'collateral damage' of cutting defense spending could be to have more 'mobile' forces. That is, have people stationed here working on infrastructure, developing alternate energy sources, etc. but be able to 'move out' when needed.

Another thing that would need to change is the marketing of 'fear.' The marketing of 'fear' has been one of the most lucrative commodities in the past 30-40 years. It drives the war machines. I don't believe fear motivates. I believe fear makes one more likely to make mistakes, act irrationally, make poor decisions, et cetera.

08-04-2011, 11:52 PM	#29
soineeLom Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 328 Senior Member	Well, that particular plan won't work, but your premise that the Pentagon budget can be massively cut is legit. The defense of the United States can be accomplished for a lot less than we spend today. But the key is to re-envision the US, not as the worlds policeman, but as a citizen of the world, without an overseas agenda. Changing the world by our example of a free people enjoying the fruits of their labor, not a people laboring to outfit the most expensive military the world has ever seen. I think you're right, it does involve a new way of thinking & seeing. Adding to the difficulty of seeing the world differently is the fact that the USA has not heeded the warnings of President Eisenhower. He spoke of the military industrial complex & how it would be a mistake to have it become too entangled with our nation's economy. There are & have been perpetual wars throughout the world & the US economy seems to be at least partially dependent on the presence of wars. Let's face it, we spend the most money in the world (by far) on military/defense, factor in defense products manufacturing gains whether we are involved or not & what do you get? Who would you look to? Doesn't it makes sense to look to the Country that spends the most (by far) & benefits the most (by far) when you have warring needs? If we wanted to imagine the US differently (not as police but as citizen) we would have to take into consideration the impact on the US economy, unemployment & other factors. One way to defray the damage or reducing the 'collateral damage' of cutting defense spending could be to have more 'mobile' forces. That is, have people stationed here working on infrastructure, developing alternate energy sources, etc. but be able to 'move out' when needed. Another thing that would need to change is the marketing of 'fear.' The marketing of 'fear' has been one of the most lucrative commodities in the past 30-40 years. It drives the war machines. I don't believe fear motivates. I believe fear makes one more likely to make mistakes, act irrationally, make poor decisions, et cetera.
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