Military over-extension has been central to every empire’s destruction. Doesn’t look like we’ll be any different.
algernon32said:
At December 30, 2011 3:57 pm
algernon32 approves this message.
algernon32said:
At December 30, 2011 4:19 pm
If the multi-national corporations that have abandoned the U.S. as a mature stagnant market need protection for securing cheap labor, access to oil fields, or raw opium, I think they should just contract with the military directly.
It would save them the cost of bribing the congressional middle men.
Billable hours for services rendered are good!
dougcsaid:
At December 30, 2011 4:43 pm
If they contracted directly with the military they would bear the cost. Instead they let the 99% pay and die while they reap 100′s of billions$ profits and pay almost no American corporate taxes. But hey…Fair is fair
Futuredomesaid:
At December 30, 2011 5:28 pm
Paul wants to privitize the military to war against america. Don’t be fooled by him. By destroying the US military, it will allow the “new” multi-nationals(after liquidation of course) to control the US easily through private armies via contract.
It will set the stage for the final destruction of the traditional order. “Soft-Bolshevism”.
rktbrkrsaid:
At December 30, 2011 7:45 pm
50K troops in Japan protecting them from Godzilla?
No wait – they are supposed to protect us, they are protecting us from Godzilla! Now it makes sense!
theexpertisinsaid:
At December 30, 2011 9:36 pm
Our military is in each and every part of the world because our Commander-in-Chief either sent them or followed past Comander-in-Chiefs sensing a need for presence. Both liberal and conservative Presidents set the military agenda.
My guess is that those serving in the voluntary military would just as soon not be in some (most) of these places, but they serve with pride, dignity and professionalism in service to our country every day.
Want to shorten the map? No problem. Institute a compulsory draft with no exemptions. If every family had skin in the game this playing field would be profoundly squeezed.
Union Agitatorsaid:
At December 30, 2011 10:55 pm
If I lived in a trailer and owned 50 guns, you’d think I was insane. What’s the difference?
MikeWsaid:
At December 30, 2011 11:28 pm
The Germans and the Japanese spent the last half century or more building peaceful, productive economies that run surpluses.
The Chinese, in turn, have spent the last three decades going from an economic basket case to passing the Germans as the largest exporter of manufactured goods.
South Korea has transformed its former poverty beyond all recognition.
We have built military bases all over the world and run a perennially huge current account deficit.
Man, did we show those chumps, or what?
Vsaid:
At December 31, 2011 2:36 am
Now, factor in those ads run on Bloomberg citing a survey that said 29% of American ‘teens’ (18-24) couldn’t locate the Pacific ocean on a map and what do you get?
romerjtsaid:
At December 31, 2011 8:44 am
The next time you hear the phrase “American Exceptionalism” recall this graphic and vote for the other person.
JET55118said:
At December 31, 2011 10:15 am
Wow- our overseas presence is totally unsustainable. This chart really hits home.
4053jrcsaid:
At December 31, 2011 11:56 am
I fully understnd why so many in the establishment think Ron Paul is dangerous. He has this annoying habit of demanding we actually uphold the Constitution.
Very dangerous thinking for those in the Military Industrial Complex.
victorsaid:
At December 31, 2011 12:02 pm
To those of us who admire and respect the US, she fulfills three major international roles: trading partner, life guard and sheriff of last resort. To deliver on the third role, total US military budget is some 4% of GDP, no chump change. But, “noblesse oblige”. According to Gallup Poll, July 2010: % Confidence in Institutions: Military=76%, Presidency=36%, Congress=11%. Ron Paul anybody?.
Si vis pacem, para bellum; Roman adage, “If you wish for peace, prepare for war” (Bush violated this, he MADE war in Iraq, must have failed Latin @ Yale or other fancy school)
And something else to remember:
Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don’t
Vsaid:
At January 1, 2012 12:01 am
@victor
What I want to know with those stats is what is the comparison when you only look at military hardware expenditures (i.e capital). Given that the wage bill for US military comapred to Chinese military will naturally be higher.
victorsaid:
At January 1, 2012 9:01 pm
@v: great point few people realize that, just like with Health care our COSTS are high, high, high. The US military spent on “Personnel” alone some $154 billion in 2009. China with a conscription system who knows, couple of bucks? same goes for hardware. Thus comparisons are difficult unless you “normalize” them.
In raw $ here’s a break down of US military expenditures 2009. Look up China’s (good luck) then try to normalize the data…
Loading ...
Wow. That goes well with this video: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/10/1044056/-Ron-Pauls-Eye-Opening-Ad-on-our-Wars-This-Ad-Needs-to-go-Viral
This chart is a pretty good ad for Ron Paul.
Military over-extension has been central to every empire’s destruction. Doesn’t look like we’ll be any different.
algernon32 approves this message.
If the multi-national corporations that have abandoned the U.S. as a mature stagnant market need protection for securing cheap labor, access to oil fields, or raw opium, I think they should just contract with the military directly.
It would save them the cost of bribing the congressional middle men.
Billable hours for services rendered are good!
If they contracted directly with the military they would bear the cost. Instead they let the 99% pay and die while they reap 100′s of billions$ profits and pay almost no American corporate taxes. But hey…Fair is fair
Paul wants to privitize the military to war against america. Don’t be fooled by him. By destroying the US military, it will allow the “new” multi-nationals(after liquidation of course) to control the US easily through private armies via contract.
It will set the stage for the final destruction of the traditional order. “Soft-Bolshevism”.
50K troops in Japan protecting them from Godzilla?
No wait – they are supposed to protect us, they are protecting us from Godzilla! Now it makes sense!
Our military is in each and every part of the world because our Commander-in-Chief either sent them or followed past Comander-in-Chiefs sensing a need for presence. Both liberal and conservative Presidents set the military agenda.
My guess is that those serving in the voluntary military would just as soon not be in some (most) of these places, but they serve with pride, dignity and professionalism in service to our country every day.
Want to shorten the map? No problem. Institute a compulsory draft with no exemptions. If every family had skin in the game this playing field would be profoundly squeezed.
If I lived in a trailer and owned 50 guns, you’d think I was insane. What’s the difference?
The Germans and the Japanese spent the last half century or more building peaceful, productive economies that run surpluses.
The Chinese, in turn, have spent the last three decades going from an economic basket case to passing the Germans as the largest exporter of manufactured goods.
South Korea has transformed its former poverty beyond all recognition.
We have built military bases all over the world and run a perennially huge current account deficit.
Man, did we show those chumps, or what?
Now, factor in those ads run on Bloomberg citing a survey that said 29% of American ‘teens’ (18-24) couldn’t locate the Pacific ocean on a map and what do you get?
The next time you hear the phrase “American Exceptionalism” recall this graphic and vote for the other person.
Wow- our overseas presence is totally unsustainable. This chart really hits home.
I fully understnd why so many in the establishment think Ron Paul is dangerous. He has this annoying habit of demanding we actually uphold the Constitution.
Very dangerous thinking for those in the Military Industrial Complex.
To those of us who admire and respect the US, she fulfills three major international roles: trading partner, life guard and sheriff of last resort. To deliver on the third role, total US military budget is some 4% of GDP, no chump change. But, “noblesse oblige”. According to Gallup Poll, July 2010: % Confidence in Institutions: Military=76%, Presidency=36%, Congress=11%. Ron Paul anybody?.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/141512/congress-ranks-last-confidence-institutions.aspx
We’re following the Roman Empire map to dissolution.
Here are some comparisons from Wiki, military expenditures /% of GDP, 2010/2009:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
Si vis pacem, para bellum; Roman adage, “If you wish for peace, prepare for war” (Bush violated this, he MADE war in Iraq, must have failed Latin @ Yale or other fancy school)
And something else to remember:
Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don’t
@victor
What I want to know with those stats is what is the comparison when you only look at military hardware expenditures (i.e capital). Given that the wage bill for US military comapred to Chinese military will naturally be higher.
@v: great point few people realize that, just like with Health care our COSTS are high, high, high. The US military spent on “Personnel” alone some $154 billion in 2009. China with a conscription system who knows, couple of bucks? same goes for hardware. Thus comparisons are difficult unless you “normalize” them.
In raw $ here’s a break down of US military expenditures 2009. Look up China’s (good luck) then try to normalize the data…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget_of_the_United_States
And how many of us are sick of this?
God save us from the “professional” military……..
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/25/opinion/25kennedy.html