Oh, Donald. Why couldn't you have been less...you

[P1tchblack]

Democrats generally vote yes on approving military spending, as well. This is not a Republican only thing. Obama got us in more conflicts and deployed an insane amount of predator drones to bomb various places. No one ever talks about that. 

I have no real problem with military spending, although it is certainly bloated through some backroom handshakes and other nonsense which makes us pay so much more for goods and services than we need to, but I agree we should be reducing troops. We need to refocus spending on technology improvements to make sure we stay far ahead of everyone else in the technology game when it comes to cyber warfare, robotics, and AI.

Sounds like you two need to take on the LIBERTARIAN view of the military, not Crappy Option D and Crappy Option R.

If you paid attention to anything other than trolling you'd know you responded to a libertarian.

I'll be sure to get right on the task of memorizing every poster's political party/leanings and position on all political issues, mmmkay princess?

Butt hurt some?   3rd Gen is right as rain on this.

wydileie Offline
Gruntled Libertarian
*

I don't know where those come from. I've never set mine. I also have no idea the basis for them or if they're just automated. In other words, I put not importance on them.

[Alabuckeye]

Both Obama and Trump are lost opportunities.

[davebucknut]

Will be interested to see the suburban, white, soccer mommy reaction when we inevitably start nation building again with good ole uncle Joe.  But hey, at least Joe isn't a big meanie on twitter.

Those soccer moms will be plenty upset when little Johnny goes off to war, so the deep state can get rich.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[wydileie]

I agree on the tech side of things wydileie.  But we spend more than just about everyone else put together.  If we cant keep the US safe with 600 Billion, then we are doing something wrong.    
Id like to be ahead of the curve with cyber stuff and tech, but I dont want to sue our military unless absolutely needed.  And then not for nation building.  Get in, destroy the enemy, and get out.  Use special forces for surgical strikes, things like that.  
Maybe that is the Libertarian thinking with the military Pitch, I honestly dont know.  If it is, then Im on board.

One thing people never think about is the cost of living driving that huge difference in budget. China spends about a third that of the US, but one has to consider the fact that engineers in the US, especially ones with clearances to work on the crazy stuff, cost a lot of money. A typical engineer working for a defense contractor carries about a $150/hr ($300K/yr) consulting charge for the government. The average engineer's salary in China is about $31K, and the Chinese government has a lot less middle men the the US does. Their costs are significantly lower.

Lucky for us, US engineers are significantly more competent and productive, since we don't have a culture so heavily cultivated around cheating to get ahead, like China does. This leads to a lot of incompetent people rising through the ranks.

[zigbee]

I agree on the tech side of things wydileie.  But we spend more than just about everyone else put together.  If we cant keep the US safe with 600 Billion, then we are doing something wrong.    
Id like to be ahead of the curve with cyber stuff and tech, but I dont want to sue our military unless absolutely needed.  And then not for nation building.  Get in, destroy the enemy, and get out.  Use special forces for surgical strikes, things like that.  
Maybe that is the Libertarian thinking with the military Pitch, I honestly dont know.  If it is, then Im on board.

One thing people never think about is the cost of living driving that huge difference in budget. China spends about a third that of the US, but one has to consider the fact that engineers in the US, especially ones with clearances to work on the crazy stuff, cost a lot of money. A typical engineer working for a defense contractor carries about a $150/hr ($300K/yr) consulting charge for the government. The average engineer's salary in China is about $31K, and the Chinese government has a lot less middle men the the US does. Their costs are significantly lower.

Lucky for us, US engineers are significantly more competent and productive, since we don't have a culture so heavily cultivated around cheating to get ahead, like China does. This leads to a lot of incompetent people rising through the ranks.

This election for president in 2020 gives me pause on that statement.....hmmmmmmmmmm.............

[wydileie]

This election for president in 2020 gives me pause on that statement.....hmmmmmmmmmm.............

Fair enough, but I meant it more in an academic and professional sense. China has things like bridge collapses and elevator and escalator failures extremely frequently, because they cut corners in everything they do, it's just who they are as a culture. Scamming and cheating people is almost an art form to them. I'm not trying to make this a race thing, either, it's a culture thing. It likely has something to do with Communism, in general, because places like Hong Kong and Taiwan are not seen in the same light in the engineering industry.

[P1tchblack]

#

[Soupcity Kid]

Almost 20 years now Mitch.  We still making progress?  

This is just a small part of burning DC down on his way out the door.  I love it.  I absolutely love it.

Agree but I pray like hell for those who remain.  Iran wants to give Trump a parting shot and killing US soldiers would be a big win for them.  I know Trump will respond up til the last second but I just fear for our troops.

[ScarletHayes]

Gosh, that sounds an awful lot like some orange dude.

Edit: this in response to Amashâ€s tweet

[P1tchblack]

These wars have gone on for nearly two decades. What heâ€s really saying is that he wants perpetual war for just-in-case reasons, knowing thereâ€s no real oversight from Congress or mandate from the American people. Itâ€s immoral and dangerous. https://t.co/VX48WmOQbt

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) November 18, 2020

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[P1tchblack]

Get real. You resort to name calling and then falsely play the victim of name calling with a made-up quote. Perpetual war is immoral and dangerous. You should stop excusing it. https://t.co/srvB8EIqzo

— Justin Amash (@justinamash) November 18, 2020

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