If we can't afford SS for the elderly, healthcare for all or a living wage for American workers...

[Scuba]

... just what is the defense budget defending?

[madokie]

1. the fleecing of the flock

Is all I can think of

[SharonAnn]

25. We need to stop calling id "defense" spending. It's "military" spending.

Countries who spend outrageous amounts on the military and deprive their own citizens? Hmmm, NOrth Korea comes to mind.

Keep saying, "It's MILITARY spending" that we're talking about.

[cr8tvlde]

28. One could add ... Empire-building Spending

and, as the Roman citizens and other such cultures discovered, it wasn't in the best interests of the common folk at all.

[madokie]

30. You got it

and you're right
Peace

[airplaneman]

35. The repugs say they want a small government.

But they also want the biggest military industrial complex on the planet.
I think they both want to enrich their industrial complex friends and ultimately the same "Friends" will stop the 99% by force when we finally rise up and revolt.
-Airplane

[Control-Z]

40. But many think of the troops

when military is used, and we all know where that can land us.

[Bluerthanblue]

2. very good question. If we can't afford all those things,

how can we call ourselves the 'Greatest Nation on Earth' either?

It's sad, but our 'defense budget' is really more about increasing the wealth of the wealthy.
And too much of our economy is centered around and supported by the military industrial complex imo.

[HughBeaumont]

3. "YER FREEDUHMS, PUNK!! FREEDUM AIN'T FREEE!!!"

Or some such line of nonsense . . .

[xchrom]

4. +1

[quaker bill]

8. Freedum may not be free

but we are lucky it doesn't cost much, because "we couldn't afford it" if it did.

[polmaven]

5. Wait.....!

You dint think that SSI getters, sick peeples and them who gotta work for a livin' are really Muricans, didja?/??

[uponit7771]

6. The MIC doesn't stand for this kind talk!!!!

[secondwind]

7. Oh, I am SOOO stealing!

[RC]

9. That question belongs on billboards and bumper stickers

T-shirts, key chains, All Democratic Political ads...

[raccoon]

10. This would make a great, but long, bumper sticker! nt

[clydefrand]

11. For all of the rich dudes

What else? Get rid of the poor, sick, and those who can't earn a living so the rich can have everything that they don't already have.

[bupkus]

12. It's defending corporate interests worldwide. nt

[Scuba]

13. Then let them pay for it, no?

[Paulie]

14. They do!!!

Then write it off as a business expense. Same for the lobbying. Sigh.

[Scuba]

17. Why don't the corporations pay their share for the defense budget? Like 99%?

[valerief]

15. Petty cash for the very wealthy. They love to dip into it whenever they want something. nt

[liberal N proud]

16. Defense budget defends the military industrial complex

Which is suppurting the military which is funded by the defense budget.

In that exchange, it is all about the 1% getting wealthier.


We are here just to server their needs and fight their wars.

[fascisthunter]

18. EXACTLY!

[malaise]

19. the 1%

National interest means the interests of the 1%.
So the children of the working class and peasantry are sent to die for those who would willingly starve them and deny them basic social, economic and political rights.

Thankfully people are waking up as they alway do as technology provides access to more information.

[Zorra]

50. +1

You win the kewpie doll, malaise.

[malaise]

56. What's the kewpie doll?

[xtraxritical]

20. Everyone in this country over 18 years old should get down to the recruiters office and join up.

That would instantly bankrupt the military.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

21. "what is the defense budget defending?" Bailouts for the billionaires.

[stlsaxman]

22. May i steal this?

[Scuba]

23. It's my gift to the public domain, a rare original thought from Scuba.

[mike_c]

24. profits....

That's it. That's the ultimate American value, the last one standing. Profit. Monetary gain.

[fruitsmoothie45]

26. Well of COURSE we can't provide universal healthcare!

Because as everybody knows, that would turn us into a communist tyranny! Like Canada!

[Curmudgeoness]

27. That is a brilliant thought.

It makes so much sense. Thanks for sharing it.

[Initech]

29. We don't matter - it's a system that rewards the rich business criminals that bankrupted us.

We're following the textbook definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results - if we'd kick the war contractors and oil billionaires to the curb and start holding them accountable for their crimes instead of rewarding them we might make some progress.

[joanbarnes]

31. Keep thinking how true......and a good Public education for all....

[Scuba]

32. Yes, there's a couple other deserving things I couldn't fit. Education is the first one.

[freshwest]

33. May everyone grow up to be as wise as you!

[MindMover]

34. It is defending the defense budget...silly wabbit....

[Starry Messenger]

36. Security guards for the 1%

They sure as hell aren't for us.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

37. Corprat profits. n/t

[WillyT]

38. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[butterfly77]

39. I have been waiting for..

the so called liberal media to ask these politicians this for years.

Its our money but we can't use it for ourselves but we can help everyone else.

They claim to be concerned for citizens but don't give a damn about people living in the streets.

[area51]

54. +1

Unfortunately it needs to be pointed out to our govt. that the more of us that are allowed to die due to lack of health care, the fewer tax dollars they'll rake in for their wars of choice. Nevermind the morality.

[jp11]

41. Defense Contract profiteers.

And of course the fear that if we don't spend enough money on defense we will be defenseless.

[WCGreen]

42. Excellent observation....

Short and too the point...

[Swede Atlanta]

43. Agree...I consider Leon Panetta's statements about defense cuts intolerable...

In my opinion we could cut the military budget by 50% and not impact our ability to defend the "homeland" at all. We spend more than the rest of the world combined on our so-called defense.

Unfortunately this cut would impact our ability to invade other countries and protect the interests of the 1% (be it oil or other natural resources).

But if push came to shove with 50% of our current military spending we could defend our borders against invasion. We have to keep an eye on Russia and China and of course be engaged in protecting our interests against terrorism. But we could still do that with 50% of our current budget.

Who would that impact? Well of course they would start not by cutting wasteful weapons programs that enrich their political contributors. They would start by cutting the number of soldiers, aviators, sailors and marines. They would go after their pay and their benefits. They would do everything but sacrifice a weapons program that enrich their overlords.

As Eisenhower warned us, the military-industrial complex will doom us to oblivion.

[the_chinuk]

44. It's defending the defense budget, naturally. n/t

[shcrane71]

45. The unenviable American way of life???

[Bozita]

46. Good'un, Scuba. Really good!

[NorthCarolina]

47. Good question, wonder why you never hear that mentioned on Cable News....

well, except for maybe Current TV (I do believe Cenk has touched on this a few times).

[harun]

48. That is the question you will never hear from the Corporate Media. Because it is THE question.

[jillan]

49. That was BRILLIANT Scuba!!!!!!

[unkachuck]

51. K&R....a most excellent question....n/t

[Rosa Luxemburg]

52. Pork for Republicans in their states

continue making outdated weaponry

[TBF]

53. K&R Excellent point! nt

[lib2DaBone]

55. K/R "Austerity" is a code word for the 1%

It means they are going to pay for their misdeeds on the backs of the elderly, school children and the working poor.

[butterfly77]

57. Kick,kick,kicked&Recommended!