Presidential Debates 2024

[Parkbandit]

I look at Norway and Sweden, two countries the left lauds as socialist even though their respective leaders have come out and clearly stated they are capitalist with heavy social programs. Now i forget which is which but one of those countries taxes start at 22% and the other I believe is 32% and EVERYONE pays those rates to start. Then they have additional taxes on higher earners. Frankly I think we need a flat 15-18%, do your taxes on a postcard, and abolish the IRS, but that will never happen.

The main reason I want it is because unless you have skin in the game, ie. actually paying for the government instead of paying nothing and in a lot of cases actually getting money back they never put in, they could care less how much money the federal government spends since it will never impact them, that is until the whole house of cards collapses and it does.

Add to that the money they save relying on the US for it's defense.

[~Rocktar~]

Add to that the money they save relying on the US for it's defense.

All of Europe's social support system would collapse if they actually had to pay the real cost of their defense. European healthcare is subsidized by US military spending. The up side is that American troops and companies got the most of that money. The down side is ignorant dumbasses look at it and claim that we should have that too. Well, we might could if they paid their fair share in the world of defense spending.

[Gelston]

The up side is that American troops ... got the most of that money.

wut

[~Rocktar~]

wut

American defense spending goes primarily to US company's that sell weapons and to troop pay. Or are you unaware of who gets those multi trillion defense spending projects? Percentage wise, not a lot of it goes to foreign companies and the cash paid to rent bases and pay locals is a also a small percentage compared to the other spending. So yeah, math is a thing. Why the fuck else would defense companies be spending loads on lobbying and bribes to get those contracts?

[Gelston]

American defense spending goes primarily to US company's that sell weapons and to troop pay. Or are you unaware of who gets those multi trillion defense spending projects? Percentage wise, not a lot of it goes to foreign companies and the cash paid to rent bases and pay locals is a also a small percentage compared to the other spending. So yeah, math is a thing. Why the fuck else would defense companies be spending loads on lobbying and bribes to get those contracts?

Troop pay is not the majority of that money. It is a quarter of it at most. Notice I left out the "companies" part because I wasn't addressing that.

[Neveragain]

Troop pay is not the majority of that money. It is a quarter of it at most. Notice I left out the "companies" part because I wasn't addressing that.

I grew up being encouraged by my parents to think that the military was a wise life path option once out of high school, I instilled that same idea with my children. Today, there is no way I would encourage my grandchildren to join the military.

I think when my daughter was considering joining the NAVY her starting salary would have been like...24k?

[~Rocktar~]

American defense spending goes primarily to US company's that sell weapons and to troop pay. . .

Troop pay is not the majority of that money. It is a quarter of it at most. Notice I left out the "companies" part because I wasn't addressing that.

Emphasis added for the reading comprehension impaired. And assuming that troop pay is say, 1/6th of the defense budget, it is still a LOT more than we pay to rent bases, pay foreigners and for defense contracts to foreign companies. But you keep failing at reading.

[Gelston]

Emphasis added for the reading comprehension impaired. And assuming that troop pay is say, 1/6th of the defense budget, it is still a LOT more than we pay to rent bases, pay foreigners and for defense contracts to foreign companies. But you keep failing at reading.

Emphasis on I didn't include companies. I don't give a fuck about your and.

[~Rocktar~]

Emphasis on I didn't include companies. I don't give a fuck about your and.

Translation: I didn't read before I spouted off and I am trying to move the goal posts to try and not sound retarded.

Hint: You failed.

[Shaps]

When I served, call me a geek or whatever... I actually believed in the principles and concepts that we operated under.

Was I naive? Yes.

Did it matter when I was actually serving? No.

Would I recommend anyone willingly serve the Country with the current political and social climate? Hell no.

Principles, norms, and respect are out the fucking window. Common sense is vilified. Our "elected leaders" have absolutely zero care for anything other than retaining power.

The US is done, it's just deciding to die slowly.