Comments on: Defense Spending - The Financial Crises Silent Bedfellow

By: BaronMarius

BaronMarius — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:33:12 +0000

[quote comment="66880"]Also, lets not forget that there was little or none defense spending in the Clinton Administration and we all know what happened in Somalia because of it.[/quote]

Wait–what? The military-industrial complex didn’t “take a break” in the 90’s… the Clinton administration spent hundreds of billions of dollars a year on the military.

By: 700 Billion? I know where you can find 612 Billion « Sean In Saskatchewan

700 Billion? I know where you can find 612 Billion « Sean In Saskatchewan — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 02:27:48 +0000

[...] h/t Matthew Good [...]

By: Salros

Salros — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:57:44 +0000

After years of trying to increase awareness about the waste of America’s National Treasure to the great military complex, I think Americans may finally have to face the fact they can not manage the world.

Eisenhower warned Americans. Most Americans have no idea how much it has cost to try and make the common used phase down here, “We’re the best!”

After Vietnam, Republicans promised America Imperialism would end. While America did mettle, it was not until the Bushes that America lost so much to spread American power and domination. How many empires have fallen because of imperialistic policies? All!

By: PharmingForDissidence

PharmingForDissidence — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:51:35 +0000

let the good times roll, eh? you know at some point the fed reserve is just gonna fire up the presses and print more money…when VISA can’t afford to turn its own goddamn lights on (so to speak), you know you’re country’s fucked…

hey, didnt some *OTHER* country try rolling out more dough once? and what happened again? oh yeahhhhh….

i dont care what anyone says about the process of entering bills into circulation and whatnot; paper money is still just paper money..

commodities are where its at…so melt your jewelry now, people!

By: mark0

mark0 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:14:39 +0000

Why shouldn’t these companies fail? Clearly they operated on such a risky business model that they deserve exactly what they are getting. The crisis is not an abstract, unnameable force that has swooped in to destroy the economy. It has been brought about by wreckless, risky lending and speculation on the part of financial companies. Why do they deserve $700 billion? Perhaps that cash should go towards paying back the individuals who lost out. Perhaps some of that cash should come out of the bloated bank accounts of CEOs and executives at Lehman Brothers, AIG, Morgan Stanley, Bear Stearns and whoever else.

As for defense spending, it is beyond disgusting to spend so much money on something as destructive as war and yet a trifle on cheap medication, vaccinations, food, water etc. for third world countries that desperately need it. I feel for the soldiers who are in harms way around the clock in Iraq and Afghanistan and if the US and Canada refuse to bring them home, they deserve some money to be spent on increased security measures. But the problem is that most of the money will go to the private sector, to contractors like Halliburton, security firms like Blackwater, arms manufacturers and the troops won’t see many tangible benefits, their level of comfort won’t increase. Worst of all, the Iraqi and Afghan people see even less. All they see is constant war without the comfort of kevlar vests and armored tanks.

By: revisited

revisited — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:46:31 +0000

To date, bailing Bush out of Iraq has only cost about $600 billion. Who knew we could find a bigger fuck-up than him?

By: uberadtx

uberadtx — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:44:44 +0000

Defense budget spending is nothing new and in order to keep our military in the lifestyle they are accustomed to, it requires a lot of spending. I mean that sincerely. I personally know the threat in Afghanistan and prefer money to be funneled into there as opposed to Iraq. I don’t agree with the pull out but understand why it has to happen. Let’s not forget that most of the money portioned is based on various intelligence factors. Also, lets not forget that there was little or none defense spending in the Clinton Administration and we all know what happened in Somalia because of it. (which is just one example)

As for Wall Street, you really gotta love Capitalism. It seems crude, I imagine, to most to appreciate it in its purity but this is what financial institutions do. That is why Wall Street is going to survive this and probably be in better shape because of it. There is no doubt that this shakedown will revolutionize the financial industry and I, for one, appreciate the history being made. I FEEL for everyone who’s assets have been rocked but you can’t jump off the roller coaster before the end of the ride.

By: Jane Smith

Jane Smith — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:40:34 +0000

The UK has only just finished paying for First World War debts…
The French have it sussed; hardly anyone there has a credit card and the culture is mainly one of ‘if I can’t pay for it I can’t have it…”