[gorbasevhuynani]

The military is notorious for buying extremely overpriced items. Even if we leave the fact that there is no constitutional mandate for the USA to act as the world doughnut muncher-only to act in self-defense-out of the discussion, this purchasing of grossly overpriced items-even when done in the context of actual defense-is atrocious. For all that liberals are accused of emotionalist logical fallacies (and trust me, I know all to well how guilty they are of this), conservatives engage in an emotionalism that is just as irrational and pathetic. Tell a conservative that it is fucking bullshit that the DoD buys hammers and toilet seats that cost three figures, and he will, in a knee-jerk fashion (just like a liberal), accuse you of hating this country, military personnel, their families, and baby Jesus, quite often while foaming at the mouth. This is nothing more than a mirror image version of political correctness, which I thoroughly hate.

Often, these fools will state that DoD spending is well under half of the budget, and a small fraction of the GDP, while dishonestly ignoring Department of State military spending (free military shit given to allied dictatorships), DHS military spending (self-explanatory), NASA military spending (various satellites), DoE military spending (nuclear arsenal maintenance, among other things), and so on. So if you want to repeat these tired, stale, asinine old canards, I'm not interested in playing your moronic dodging game.

We just have to wait for Greatest Generation, Silent Generation, and Baby Boomer scum* to die off. Generations X and younger don't seem to be as sickeningly indoctrinated with mindless military worship as those generations do. Maybe by 2040 or so hundreds of billions of dollars won't be wasted every year on things that do not make this country any safer. So for all you teabaggers (Ron Paul faction excluded, as I am well aware that a small percentage of tea party people do not deserve to be called tea baggers because they genuinely oppose all wasteful spending), just know that there are tens of millions of people who see through your hypocritical bullshit.

* Not every member of these generations is scum, just the members who desperately want to drag the world back to the middle ages.

[Msrwbdas]

I spent 20 years in the military, and I never saw a $300.00 toilet seat, nor did I ever see a $300.00 hammer.

You should've saved the time on pasting a poll and just posted that you hate the military...

[bjacogaerllyo]

I see lots of name calling and rage, and no facts.

[retTreftowhexm]

I spent 20 years in the military, and I never saw a $300.00 toilet seat, nor did I ever see a $300.00 hammer.

You should've saved the time on pasting a poll and just posted that you hate the military...

Since you didn't see them, they didn't exist?

As long as we're playing the "I get to hyperbolize my opponent's position and put words into his mouth" game, I will state that you should just admit that you mindlessly worship the military and approve of anything that it does, without question.

[Justlovemy]

I see lots of name calling and rage, and no facts.

Then you did not notice the link.

[Impariclainna]

Then you did not notice the link.

Your link doesn't work. Getting SQL errors.

[Bridgester]

Your link doesn't work. Getting SQL errors.

It was working about a half hour ago.

Anyway, here is an even better source, a NY Times article abstract from 1986: Dept. of Hundred-Dollar Toilet Seats - NYTimes.com

[NarunapyCalry]

It was working about a half hour ago.

Anyway, here is an even better source, a NY Times article from 1986: Dept. of Hundred-Dollar Toilet Seats - NYTimes.com

Got anything that isn't over 20 years old?

[Gometesstem]

Got anything that isn't over 20 years old?

WTF, are you serious? A source from the time of the scandal is the ideal source for documenting that scandal.

[DINAKuncher]

WTF, are you serious? A source from the time of the scandal is the ideal source for documenting that scandal.

You were asked about facts, and you point to an article and scandal that occured 25 years ago. Surely, you must admit, that things may have changed since then? Are you not trying to make an argument against military spending today?

[untostaronaf]

You were asked about facts, and you point to an article and scandal that occured 25 years ago. Surely, you must admit, that things may have changed since then? Are you not trying to make an argument against military spending today?

I admit that things have changed since then. Things are worse now. What is the point in spending more money on offense than the rest of the world combined in a post-cold war environment?

[mybooboo]

I admit that things have changed since then. Things are worse now. What is the point in spending more money on offense than the rest of the world combined in a post-cold war environment?

I agree that we have a lot of wasteful spending when it comes to the United States military. That said, do you have any data showing that spending is 'worse now' than it was 25 years ago?

[Petwrenny]

I agree that we have a lot of wasteful spending when it comes to the United States military. That said, do you have any data showing that spending is 'worse now' than it was 25 years ago?

[MeatteCen]

We're spending more now. How much does an aircraft carrier cost? How much does a stealth fighter cost? How much does a nuclear submarine cost? The problem isn't $400 hammers. The problem is we're outspending the rest of the world combined, including not only our allies, but Russia and China, the only potential enemies we might have of any significance (which seem right now like a very low probability of a threat). Our policing of the world, from Korea to Libya to Iraq to Afghanistan has gotten way out of control and goes significantly beyond what the constitution allows for the purpose of the military.

[Extipletape]

Two things...

1) We're paranoid enough to think no amount of military spending is ever enough.

2) We've foolishly allowed our allies to depend on our defense.

[Elaltergephah]

I was actually referring to the lack of factual basis for all his other insults and rhetoric. $400 hammers are the least the countries problems.

[flienianO]

For example:

-no constitutional mandate for the USA to act as the world doughnut muncher-only to act in self-defense
-conservatives will accuse you of hating this country, military personnel, their families, and baby Jesus, quite often while foaming at the mouth.
-Often, these fools will state that DoD spending is well under half of the budget, and a small fraction of the GDP, while dishonestly ignoring [stuff]
-I'm not interested in playing your moronic dodging game
-Maybe by 2040 or so hundreds of billions of dollars won't be wasted every year on things that do not make this country any safer.
-a whole paragraph on 'teabaggers'
-there are tens of millions of people who see through your hypocritical bullshit.
-Greatest Generation, Silent Generation, and Baby Boomer are scum, but not every member

Oh and of course, the title:

-mention of absurdly wasteful military spending left out of budget debates

[limpoporanique]

Yes, the military acquisition process is as crooked as it comes because every congresscritter of every party has to have at least three bolts made in their district so said congresscritter has a boltsmith to be in their campaign ads.

That has nothing to do with waiting for the Greatest Generation to pass on. They went through a tremendous trauma for us, and if we fail to heed the lessons they learned, we will repeat them.

[Rwujnezq]

I was actually referring to the lack of factual basis for all his other insults and rhetoric. $400 hammers are the least the countries problems.

This coming from the board's self-appointed paragon of advocacy for government fiscal responsibility. I also see that you voted for unquestioning allegiance to the military in my poll. I don't think that I have ever seen greater hypocrisy on a message board.

[sposteTipsKage]

This coming from the board's self-appointed paragon of advocacy for government fiscal responsibility. I also see that you voted for unquestioning allegiance to the military in my poll. I don't think that I have ever seen greater hypocrisy on a message board.

It was a sarcastic vote. How am I being hypocritical? I notice you didnt post any facts yet.