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kpete

(72,018 posts) Wed Jul 17, 2013, 10:31 AM Jul 2013

"Current military spending is lapping at historic highs, not lows."

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/07/chart-day-military-spending-historic-highs

7 replies

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"Current military spending is lapping at historic highs, not lows." (Original Post) kpete Jul 2013 OP

Economics 101: More guns less butter think Jul 2013 #1

"Small gov't" refers to small protections for people, not small DirkGently Jul 2013 #2

The present U.S. military budget is higher than it was in 2003, 1968, and 1952. leveymg Jul 2013 #3

Fear sells! Vinnie From Indy Jul 2013 #4

The equipment is harder and more costly to make Lurks Often Jul 2013 #5

The Pentagon should go into the banking business. Something they're actually good at. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2013 #6

That's a very good graphic bhikkhu Jul 2013 #7

think

(11,641 posts)

1. Economics 101: More guns less butter

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Wed Jul 17, 2013, 10:33 AM

Jul 2013

DirkGently

(12,151 posts)

2. "Small gov't" refers to small protections for people, not small

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Wed Jul 17, 2013, 10:35 AM

Jul 2013

gifts to wealthy interests.

We should clarify that every time it's brought up.

leveymg

(36,418 posts)

3. The present U.S. military budget is higher than it was in 2003, 1968, and 1952.

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Wed Jul 17, 2013, 10:44 AM

Jul 2013

Think about that for a moment.

Vinnie From Indy

(10,820 posts)

4. Fear sells!

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Wed Jul 17, 2013, 10:52 AM

Jul 2013

The MIC finally came up with the solution to replacing the Red Scare with Al Queda. Now they have an enemy that will never be vanquished and is no threat to the wealth status quo.

Lurks Often

(5,455 posts)

5. The equipment is harder and more costly to make

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Wed Jul 17, 2013, 11:20 AM

Jul 2013

as well as requiring far more skilled workers then what was required in WWII, Korea or even Vietnam, so worker salaries are higher as well.

This is probably the smallest military we've had since before WWII and if it isn't, it's damn close

When you compare it to Russia and China, remember how much THEIR workers are paid.

Tierra_y_Libertad

(50,414 posts)

6. The Pentagon should go into the banking business. Something they're actually good at.

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Wed Jul 17, 2013, 11:27 AM

Jul 2013

Seeing as how they keep losing wars despite all their wealth.

bhikkhu

(10,724 posts)

7. That's a very good graphic

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Wed Jul 17, 2013, 11:37 AM

Jul 2013

...showing actual dollars, then two different inflation adjustments, it fully covers the most relevant time period, and it starts at zero! The repugs would never put out a graphic like that.

It does show a decline though, more or less just down to the "reagan peak". It can certainly go down further, though I'm pretty happy with how its gone so far.

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