886 Billion Dollars for Weapons?

[msc545]

The House on Thursday overwhelmingly passed an $886 billion defense bill, clearing the measure for President Biden after pushing past a revolt from the far right over the exclusion of restrictions they had sought to abortion access, transgender care, and racial diversity and inclusion policies at the Pentagon.

There is no money for healthcare or the poor or jobs or the envionment.

The actural cost is probably 1.4 Trillion if you take into account all of the "black" programs and corruption that they won't tell us about.

[WindAtMyBack]

The military is a prime responsibility of the central government. The other things you listed are not. The Constitution and the history books are pretty clear on the responsibilities of the central government. It's also pretty clear on what they can NOT do - which is everything they are not explicitly tasked to do..

The military budget **IS** for healthcare, the poor and jobs. Where do you think all that money goes? The thing is, it goes to people who actually work for it, instead of just giving it away.

Several million good paying jobs with great benefits is nothing to sneeze at. The US military is also one of the biggest and best education institutions in the world. Don't forget the million and a half or so civil servants. Add another million who work for defense contractors. Don't forget the twenty million or so veterans who were educated by the military, many whom continue to be educated with VA benefits.

[BoopBoopBeep]

Not that this makes it better. But part of the reason we overpay for weapons and $400 toilet seats and all the other government nonsense is because that's how they funnel money into black budget items. If I do it they call it money laundering (cleaning stage). If they do it it's "patriotic."

[purplepoppy]

Excuse my ignorance on this matter but are you saying the repubs are whining because they weren't allowed to be racist, homophobic bigots?

Given how putin is behaving at the minute I think it's a good idea to restocking the weapons shelf and making it very public that you are.

[Soteris]

Basically, yes that is exactly what the Repubs are whining about. Its not serious mind you, they just like to whine. There is like 0% chance they would ACTUALLY stand in the way of the biggest payout for their donors from the taxpayer.

Either way, I just wanted to interject that USA has not really depleted its stocks in the first place. The things sent to Ukraine is basically just things the US military no longer uses or uses in a very small capacity. For example, while yes the US army uses artillery and they have given a fair bit of its artillery shells to Ukraine, they still have enough in supply and the US army does by no means rely on artillery anymore ever since they bet everything and its dog on air power and long range missiles.

Even the few Abrams tanks that USA sent to Ukraine were from long term storage that really was not intended to be used anymore and out of date and the ATACMS rockets they gave recently is technically still in service but the specific variants sent to Ukraine was an early version that has been replaced like 2-3 times over now by newer ones.

Its important that people recognize that USA has not actually sacrificed its combat readiness in any meaningful regard by sending Ukraine equipment. That is just how much old junk that USA has in its back pocket.

[goaded]

@Soteris If only they'd look under the cusions on the sofa too.

[Soteris]

@goaded They will. The military support is going to become more serious over time such as when they will start giving away F16's which unlike pretty much everything beforehand, is something they actually kept in active use.

[Daniela1982]

That is because members of Congress get kickbacks from Defense Contractors. I'm sure those $50 toilet seats produced a lot of money going into certain people's pockets. Or how about that $13 Billion dollar Aircraft Carrier?

[lightbulb27]

I vagley recall under Regan the shock of spending a billion on a B1 bomber and the cost of aircraft carriers. I don't even know what this number means anymore... some graphs provide insight. Gotta wonder what we get for all this? It's all about security and control... which is related to greed and fear. These are the drivers of humanity. Jesus dealt with this, but most of humanity still favors fear over love. So this number... is going way higher as quantum computers and technology become the differentiator and everything has to be replaced/rebuilt.

[gorydetails]

And gee, who are the three people running for president who even giving remote lip service to breaking the uniparty? Oh yeah, one says mean things on twitter so he’s out…. the other is a “conspiracy theorist”, and the last one is probably just saying things to get elected.

[abc3643]

It's not just for weapons.
Don't be naïve.
Instead, do a little due diligence.
https://www.armed-services.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fy24_ndaa_conference_executive_summary1.pdf

[jshm2]

Most of that is kickbacks and loans that the USA will get double back - plus interest.

As for the weapons, most of it is crap anyway. The USA like the Soviet Union is spending a lot on useless weapons, and needs wars and conflicts to sell the shit to.

You clearly don't know much about American politics, they keep things shit and expensive so you get to pay for at as your civic duty. Then you go invade some country for it's resources to make up the shortfall.

[trellbrown84]

Racial diversity and inclusivity does not belong in our military or our businesses. We have a military to protect our country, not parade around and pretend they're My Little Pony characters while dressing in drag, tryna be like RuPaul.

There is a reason I've stopped filing taxes. Because if they're going to keep this up, there is no reason for me to be loyal to America.

[KrakenAttackin]

Actually quite a lot of these funds are for basic military salaries, health care of active and dependents, housing for military personnel and dependents, and basic infrastructure on bases. It is a lot of money for sure but it's not all just weapons.

[msc545]

Very True Kraken.

[RealMarek]

There are people getting rich from this. They also don’t mind killing hundreds of thousands just to keep the grift going.

[NathanDavis]

well, all that lobbyism is not done for nothing... right?

of course it will pass... lol

[msc545]

It will pass. It always does. An obscene amount of money for an obscene cause.

[NathanDavis]

well, that's their goal... to funnel the taxes into their weaponry coffins

they paid to developed it, and they also paid for it to be used and sold, so now they're getting paid and collecting

and as long as wars and conflict stay overseas... most people are actually okay with it

[msc545]

Many people are NOT ok with it. Not that it ever matters.

[NathanDavis]

yes, I get that...

I am not okay with it... but that's my word and sentiment

in my actions, well... I do nothing about because yes, like you said, it won't really matter much or at all

[MysticDevice]

For the party that's "anti-war" they sure do love war.

[Anonymous]

You are exactly right, and these people can't see two feet in front of them. Biden has done absolutely nothing for the poor, middle class, healthcare he is an asshole.

[Anonymous]

Weapons that will be given to Hamas and Iran and Lebanon...

[DarkWinterNights]

Always more money to keep piling up the bodies.

[exitseven]

Did this include money for Ukraine?

[Soteris]

No. That is a separate bill.

[exitseven]

@Soteris okay.

[exitseven]

This could pay for all the illegal aliens for almost two years.

[Soteris]

Well you can think of it that way, but you won't have a military in return. can't say I would miss it personally.

[exitseven]

@Soteris nope, we need to have the biggest stick.

[Soteris]

For what exactly?

[exitseven]

@Soteris to keep China Russia and anybody else at bay.

[msc545]

Doesn't keep anyone at bay. The US has lost every war it has been involved in since world war II. Not exactly a fearsome record Is it?

[exitseven]

That is not the military 's fault. It is the politicians that want to keep wars going forever. If the government would let them win it would be all over before dinner.

[Soteris]

@exitseven
You mean China who is collapsing under the weight of their economic disaster and Russia that equally is suffering from economic disaster from the sanctions and losing a war against Ukraine?

Yepp, you clearly need a good military to stand up to those behemoths. 10 villagers with spears ought to do.

[exitseven]

@Soteris China has a bigger navy than the US. Aĺ the ships were we made in China but still that is a little scary

[Soteris]

I suggest you look into Chinas navy again. Those ships are rubbish. Furthermore, I suggest looking into WHY USA has radically down-scaled their own navy, because they did not do it simply to save money, they did it because it did not impact their naval strength. Less is more, quality over quantity.

But yeah, the Chinese navy is more or less a paper tiger that is not built for things like invading USA but rather MAYBE invading Taiwan but mostly just protecting trade. They are no real credible threat, I would even fear Indias navy above the Chinese right now.

[msc545]

It is the fault of both the politicians and the military but that is not the point.