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

[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.