Quote:
Originally Posted by mrnyc
this is a good example of what nice things you can have when you dont have to give a care in the world about your own self defense when uncle sam has your back. thankfully for the usa taxpayer that will be changing.
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oh man, where to start...
First of all if you calculate the defense spendings on equal footing you will find a very similar spending across virtually all NATO countries..
That the US includes pensions and various educational services that are covered in other forms in other countries doesn't mean it spends more - just that it does it best to inflate it's numbers.. we could do the same with same results, we just happens to be covering such services for our citizens outside the military spendings.. not to mention the investment in local companies or running expenses of various facilities that we also don't add to the list..
As for not caring about our self defense I don't think that is fair - first of all we are one of the very few nations left that keeps a conscription service requiring young men ( and accepts voluntary women ) to undergo military training and get specialized in a branch and function - I spend a year as a teen undergoing infantry training - this alone means we have a pool of over 2 million trained men to pull from who are required by law to defend the nation.. just as you will find bunkers all around our forests with weaponry in case of an invasion attempt..
Further more as your article mentions we have been one of the largest contributers to the US's conflicts despite our small population -
heck I did two tours in Iraq to support you guys!
You will also find Denmark to be one of the nations who often chose to buy US gear to support you guys despite better and cheaper options from our neighbouring nations.. ( planes, rifles etc ) no to mention we gladly provide facilities to you guys such as our Thule base on Greenland..
So all in all if you really feel you are being cheated in the political climate the US has created, then spend a little looking into the details rather than right-wing headlines..
As for our nation and society that comes down to how we tax and how we spend the taxes - at the end of the day a democratic nation is as it's citizens wants it to be!