General Discussion

jmowreader

(53,271 posts)

77. You know why weapons systems are horrendously overpriced.

Tue Nov 13, 2012, 05:59 PM

Nov 2012

R&D, and limited production.

Say it cost $80 million to invent the iPad, and $80 million to invent a new antiitank missile. Then let's say it cost $80 million to build an iPad factory and the same to build a missile factory.

Apple has sold 80 million iPads since they were introduced. The startup costs add $2 to each unit.

The Army might buy 1000 launchers because they won't make less, and 10,000 missiles, with an option to build another thousand a year so the company will have reason to not tear out the missile production line and replace it with a saucepan manufacturing line. (This is one of the reasons the military gets weapons they don't ask for.) The startup costs add over $14,000 to the price of each unit.

There are things you have to do when you make shit that it's illegal to sell to civilians, and one of them is charge outrageous prices for it.

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If Dems won the election, why is ANYONE talking about a 3:1 ratio of spending cuts/tax increases??? [View all] reformist2 Nov 2012 OP

I believe the last offer we made was 2.5:1, they just want to get that deal done Motown_Johnny Nov 2012 #1

Yes, and austerity wlil slow the economy and harm millions. woo me with science Nov 2012 #90

As one famous Democrat said, "Arithmetic." maui902 Nov 2012 #2

There's more than one way to do the math. We should be talking about MUCH higher rates on the rich. reformist2 Nov 2012 #4

Not suggesting it's the only way to cut $4 trillion of the deficit maui902 Nov 2012 #13

Higher rates on the rich will make the government how much money? underoath Nov 2012 #48

So you are against raising taxes on the rich? Care Acutely Nov 2012 #64

^^^THIS^^^ HangOnKids Nov 2012 #71

Hell yes I noticed too! Care Acutely Nov 2012 #81

50 million yearly ...either way, they pony up like the rest of us uponit7771 Nov 2012 #79

"Long term deficit/debt that Democrats?Republicans alike agree is a drag on the economy. Fuddnik Nov 2012 #7

A correction that needs to be made. "let Bush tax cuts expire on those rhett o rick Nov 2012 #19

Good point and I missed that in my post maui902 Nov 2012 #20

NP. It is a very common mistake and, like you said, important to keep it right rhett o rick Nov 2012 #21

Let's make 99.999% of those cuts in Defense. Roland99 Nov 2012 #27

Just remember, AlexSatan Nov 2012 #62

Right...but it also goes toward overpaid contractors and horrendously expensive weapons systems. Roland99 Nov 2012 #73

Some does AlexSatan Nov 2012 #74

You know why weapons systems are horrendously overpriced. jmowreader Nov 2012 #77

There is a ton of pork in programs other than SS, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment.... OldDem2012 Nov 2012 #3

Because the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy only reduce the deficit by $50 billion/yr. banned from Kos Nov 2012 #5

Then raise taxes on the rich so that it reduces the deficit by $500 billion. reformist2 Nov 2012 #6

Then raise the tax rate on the 1% to 90%. Temporarily, of course. We won the election the 1% rhett o rick Nov 2012 #18

Last I checked the Republicans still control the House. n/t PoliticAverse Nov 2012 #44

Since you make me guess your point, I assume you mean we should rhett o rick Nov 2012 #46

Do you really think there is any likelihood of the Republicans setting the highest income tax PoliticAverse Nov 2012 #47

Do you really think we should cut SS and Medicare benefits? nm rhett o rick Nov 2012 #52

We're talking about your delusion that the Republican controlled House would set a 90% top tax rate PoliticAverse Nov 2012 #56

Excuse me, I thought this thread was about cutting spending to fix the deficit. rhett o rick Nov 2012 #72

Deficits and Debt are NOT our #1 problem SHRED Nov 2012 #8

Sorry, can't hear you. PETRUS Nov 2012 #31

yes, even krugman said newspeak Nov 2012 #55

+10000 RepublicansRZombies Nov 2012 #76

Simple: because Repubs still have the House. caseymoz Nov 2012 #9

Ahhh yes... 99Forever Nov 2012 #10

So, who has recently talked about it? Have a link? GOTV Nov 2012 #11

Fresh off the virtual right wing "third way" presses! Dragonfli Nov 2012 #68

If we cut the military spending, they might all start having affairs and endangering Bluenorthwest Nov 2012 #12

Er... LWolf Nov 2012 #14

not all democrats are liberal iamthebandfanman Nov 2012 #15

Cut the DOD ONLY. That is the only cut needed on point Nov 2012 #16

Good luck with that. The only thing that seems to be passing for a 'cut' is a reduction PoliticAverse Nov 2012 #58

That will really help the unemployment rate for vets (nt) AlexSatan Nov 2012 #63

This is why I believe we shouldn't compromise Hutzpa Nov 2012 #17

Until the Democratic Party holds filibuster proof majorities in both houses of Congress maui902 Nov 2012 #45

Not this talk about filibuster proof majority in Congress again Hutzpa Nov 2012 #51

"I'm sure we can find republicans willing to work with us" NYC Liberal Nov 2012 #75

Because a2liberal Nov 2012 #22

Because they didn't win. The Republicans won the House, which is enough to block anything. n/t Dawgs Nov 2012 #23

We have to be realistic think_critically Nov 2012 #24

Or we could tax the churches. go west young man Nov 2012 #49

Thank you for your CONCERN. KamaAina Nov 2012 #50

The president is a conservative Doctor_J Nov 2012 #25

So true. Absolute fiction made up by Grover Nordquist go west young man Nov 2012 #26

And one other thing. go west young man Nov 2012 #28

Some John2 Nov 2012 #29

Why don't we wait to see what is going to be done? Loudestlib Nov 2012 #30

Because by then it's usually too late. Fuddnik Nov 2012 #32

Sit quietly and wait? NO. We need to yell and scream constantly to keep our leaders in line. reformist2 Nov 2012 #33

That John2 Nov 2012 #34

Cut the Pentagon. Spitfire of ATJ Nov 2012 #35

Oh, Reformist2! ReRe Nov 2012 #36

Because the REAL bosses Le Taz Hot Nov 2012 #37

This is the correct answer. woo me with science Nov 2012 #69

Because it's better than 10:1? kelliekat44 Nov 2012 #38

You really don't get how it works, do you? WeekendWarrior Nov 2012 #39

Dems should offer a 1:1 deal, or we go over the "cliff" (which I'm not scared of, btw.) reformist2 Nov 2012 #41

I respect that you might not be scared personally maui902 Nov 2012 #59

yeah, all democrats can do is lose; they can never win against the almight GOP. HiPointDem Nov 2012 #67

I don't know if we are really ready for the tax increases jschurchin Nov 2012 #40

They want cuts- cut Homeland Security, TSA, prisons for profit, charter schools for profit RepublicansRZombies Nov 2012 #42

Because the guy that got reelected President has repeatedly supported a 'Grand Bargain' PoliticAverse Nov 2012 #43

reverse those odds, and I will support it. ChairmanAgnostic Nov 2012 #53

So you're in favor of letting the Bush tax cuts expire for everyone? maui902 Nov 2012 #61

You seem to be new here. Yes, many of us on DU are in favor of just exactly that:: Raksha Nov 2012 #86

I am concerned about just letting the all the cuts expire maui902 Nov 2012 #88

The President made clear he had to make cuts. I just hope he knows that cutting the poor... hrmjustin Nov 2012 #54

It's no wonder the GOP tries everything in the book to raiload the results. Many of the top-ranking. wake.up.america Nov 2012 #57

Because the real bosses who pony up the bribes...er, campaign contributions...demand it. Tierra_y_Libertad Nov 2012 #60

+1000000 woo me with science Nov 2012 #70

kr HiPointDem Nov 2012 #65

We're asking the same thing in our household. avaistheone1 Nov 2012 #66

The professional left are the ones talking krawhitham Nov 2012 #78

That is incorrect, unless you think the third way is a bunch of professional leftists Dragonfli Nov 2012 #80

Claim 6 is a flat out lie and they never substantiate it at all. joshcryer Nov 2012 #82

Actually I think they are Republican infiltrators masquerading as Democrats Dragonfli Nov 2012 #83

My wishful thinking? They are lying. It's a straight up lie. joshcryer Nov 2012 #84

Are they Democratic liars, or Republican liars, they should be fought either way Dragonfli Nov 2012 #85

I said in the other thread that they're conservatives or right leaning or Republicans. joshcryer Nov 2012 #87

Exactly. This is about AUSTERITY, not just Medicare and SS. woo me with science Nov 2012 #89

We need to be talking about the logic of slashing the budget at all right now. woo me with science Nov 2012 #91