Quote Originally Posted by IDCrewDawg
So cutting the budget of the military, while it seems so simple, could also hurt the local economies of the cities that support the military.
America has millitary bases in a really nuts amount of countries. Why? So we can launch a surprise attack on Sweden and Togo?

Look at the number of aircraft carriers we have. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Categor..._United_States. There are 12 aircraft carrier battle groups. Again, why?

I don't really think America needs any aircraft carriers. But, ok, there 'might' come a time when we need, say, 2. Maybe 3. Definetly not over 10... and we have 12. Mind you, it costs a fortune to keep these things running.

I also believe the local economies should not be so dependant on millitary structures. Short term it makes sense to keep them running, long term we would be better off with... an economy based on something else. Something that requires more intellect.

One of the more common arguments you hear is that America needs all this money for the "War on Terror", etc.

A better question is, where do countries like Iran get all the extra money needed to make nuclear bombs, rockets...? With the kind of leadership they have, why arent they in the same economic soup countries in Africa are?

Its simple really. They sell oil, buy weapons, do dumb things with them. America buys their oil, most likely (indirectly) sells them weapons, then spends even more money to defend against them. Cute, isnt it?