Daddy Warbucks donates big bucks to the GOP
Above all else, the primary obligation of the federal government
remains providing for the common defence against all threats foreign
and domestic.
remains providing for the common defence against all threats foreign
and domestic.
We offer a plan to keep our nation secure at home and abroad and will provide the resources, authority, and support our deployed military requires, fully fund missile defense, and enforce sanctions against Iran.
We will keep terrorist combatants in Guantanamo Bay not in our local jails and courtrooms. Our borders are a vital part of our security, so we will act decisively to ensure that the federal government fulfils its constitutional duty to protect our
citizens and our Nation, working closely with our state and local governments.
-- end quote
What is the threat to the US that requires a defence build-up? We are working on treaties with Russia and China is our biggest trading partner. Defense overspending is why we had duplicative defence systems like the F-22 and F-35 and the government pays $500 for a hammer.
George W. Bush had eight years to secure our borders and did nothing.
Is the primary obligation of the government defence as the GOP contends? This is what the preamble says:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquillity, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
According to the preamble the founders put domestic tranquillity above defence. The Roman empire is a classic example of why domestic tranquillity is more important. If the government is not supported by the people, the people will not defend a nation from foreign enemies.
The Republican truism of defence above all else is bogus. The real issue is how much does the country really need to spend on defence. The US has a Discretionary spending budget of $1.368 trillion. Defence spending actually increased from the last year of the Bush presidency.
The Department of Defence (including Overseas Contingency Operations) budget is $663.7 billion which is +12.7% increase from the last Bush budget.
This means that 48 per cent of federal discretionary spending goes to defense. The GOP will try to convince you that the actual spending on defence is lower by talking about entitlements like Social Security and Medicare.
Entitlements are primarily paid for by the FICA payroll tax, not federal Income tax so they are comparing apples to oranges.
What the GOP really wants to do is send more pork to conservative defence industries that contribute to the GOP. That's why Republicans are so strong on defence. Its not about patriotism, its about cold hard cash.
sources: Wikipedia and
From: Kickin' Ass and Takin' Names ...@hotmail.com
(USENET alt.politics)
Date: Sun, 24 Oct 2010 11:13:34 -0400
Local: Sun, Oct 24 2010 11:13 am
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