Barney Frank, says, "Cut the MIlitary Budget"....

[dutch508]

bvar22  (1000+ posts)        Tue Feb-24-09 12:55 PM
Original message
Liberal Democratic Rep, Barney Frank, says, "Cut the MIlitary Budget".... 
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x5122025

"Sadly, self-described centrist and even liberal organizations often talk about the need to curtail deficits by cutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other programs that have a benign social purpose, but they fail to talk about one area where substantial budget reductions would have the doubly beneficial effect of cutting the deficit and diminishing expenditures that often do more harm than good. Obviously people should be concerned about the $700 billion Congress voted for this past fall to deal with the credit crisis. But even if none of that money were to be paid back--and most of it will be--it would involve a smaller drain on taxpayer dollars than the Iraq War will have cost us by the time it is concluded, and it is roughly equivalent to the $651 billion we will spend on all defense in this fiscal year.

<snip>

"Spending on military hardware does produce some jobs, but it is one of the most inefficient ways to deploy public funds to stimulate the economy. When I asked him years ago what he thought about military spending as stimulus, Alan Greenspan, to his credit, noted that from an economic standpoint military spending was like insurance: if necessary to meet its primary need, it had to be done, but it was not good for the economy; and to the extent that it could be reduced, the economy would benefit.

The math is compelling: if we do not make reductions approximating 25 percent of the military budget starting fairly soon, it will be impossible to continue to fund an adequate level of domestic activity even with a repeal of Bush's tax cuts for the very wealthy."

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090302/frank

I am glad to hear Democrats from the Liberal Wing finding their voices.

It is immoral to discuss cutting Social Programs ("Entitlement Reforms")while continuing to spend obscene amounts on the Military.

Thank You, Barney Frank

Cut the military budget by 25%, pull the troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq, close all military bases...
Think about the stimulation you'll feel!

Taverner  (1000+ posts)        Tue Feb-24-09 12:59 PM
Response to Original message
2. Hell, I think we need to ELIMINATE the military 
 Reduce it down to just a National Guard, like we had in between WWI and WWII

History is no friend to the DUmpmonkies. I wonder if the Hawaii National Guard is still pissed off about Pearl Harbor?

rurallib  (1000+ posts)        Tue Feb-24-09 01:04 PM
Response to Original message
3. How could Obama halve the deficit in 4 years
 1) Cut the military budget at least in half
2) stop both ****ing wars.
3) close loopholes in taxes
4) go after offshore corps doing business in the US
5) increase IRS staff and audit all returns for with incomes over $250,000
6) legalize and tax marijuana
7) universal single payer HC

I am sure there are many more

You'll have to get the AQ to stop as well, you know.




 

[JohnnyReb]

Long story short....Barney Frank's male whore house is no longer profitable.

[asdf2231]

**** Barney Frank with a cheese grater.

In a way he WON'T like.

[TheSarge]

Don't forget folks...this is the SAME group of assclowns that was bashing the previous administration for not spending enough to get troops the equipment they needed.

[Wretched Excess]

he trotted out the 25% military budget reduction before the inauguration, and it was met with the sound of crickets chirping.  that's too bat-shit insane even for a lot of the loopy left.

[BlueStateSaint]

he trotted out the 25% military budget reduction before the inauguration, and it was met with the sound of crickets chirping.  that's too bat-shit insane even for a lot of the loopy left.

But, what are the noises now?  I believe the Obamessiah's calling for a 10% drop in military spending . . .

[TheSarge]

But, what are the noises now?  I believe the Obamessiah's calling for a 10% drop in military spending . . .

And there is a moonbat on my local forum claiming it's not really a cut...but a raise over last years budget.

http://www.myopenforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=41312

[Wretched Excess]

But, what are the noises now?  I believe the Obamessiah's calling for a 10% drop in military spending . . .

I missed a precise number, but it makes sense that we can begin to reduce spending in iraq.  even W was headed in that direction.  obama can thank his lucky stars that george bush ignored his hysterical warnings on iraq policy and went ahead with the surge.  that's the only place he can reduce the DoD budget with anything resembling safety.

I doubt that would get him to even 10% in his first term, especially when he is pledged to ramping up in afghanistan.  how do you cut military spending during a war that you support?

[Carl]

I missed a precise number, but it makes sense that we can begin to reduce spending in iraq.  even W was headed in that direction.  obama can thank his lucky stars that george bush ignored his hysterical warnings on iraq policy and went ahead with the surge.  that's the only place he can reduce the DoD budget with anything resembling safety.

I doubt that would get him to even 10% in his first term, especially when he is pledged to ramping up in afghanistan.  how do you cut military spending during a war that you support?

I guess the same way you proclaim a pay as you go budget the day before Congress increases this years by 8% more pork.

[djones520]

I missed a precise number, but it makes sense that we can begin to reduce spending in iraq.  even W was headed in that direction.  obama can thank his lucky stars that george bush ignored his hysterical warnings on iraq policy and went ahead with the surge.  that's the only place he can reduce the DoD budget with anything resembling safety.

I doubt that would get him to even 10% in his first term, especially when he is pledged to ramping up in afghanistan.  how do you cut military spending during a war that you support?

He promised he was going to cut spending to Afghanistan as well WE.

[Wretched Excess]

He promised he was going to cut spending to Afghanistan as well WE.

that's going to be a neat trick.  I can't wait to see that.

[djones520]

that's going to be a neat trick.  I can't wait to see that.

I'd rather wait.  Less dead US Soldiers that way.

[TheSarge]

I missed a precise number, but it makes sense that we can begin to reduce spending in iraq.  even W was headed in that direction.  obama can thank his lucky stars that george bush ignored his hysterical warnings on iraq policy and went ahead with the surge.  that's the only place he can reduce the DoD budget with anything resembling safety.

I doubt that would get him to even 10% in his first term, especially when he is pledged to ramping up in afghanistan.  how do you cut military spending during a war that you support?

The funding for Iraq and Afghanistan comes outside the yearly DoD budget.  Those are supplemental spending.

So if you reduce them you aren't in effect reducing by the 10-25% that the Libtards are calling for.

[NHSparky]

He promised he was going to cut spending to Afghanistan as well WE.

And still send an extra 17K there.  Nah, that's not going to get good people killed.

[Wretched Excess]

I'd rather wait.  Less dead US Soldiers that way.

(note to self : never assume that anyone will "get" dark sarcasm)

[djones520]

(note to self : never assume that anyone will "get" dark sarcasm)

No, you where correct to assume.  I just thought I'd explain it out for lurking DUmmies.

[Wretched Excess]

The funding for Iraq and Afghanistan comes outside the yearly DoD budget.  Those are supplemental spending.

So if you reduce them you aren't in effect reducing by the 10-25% that the Libtards are calling for.

I understand where the war funding comes from. 

according to him, at least during the campaign, he was claiming a huge offset from ending the war in iraq to pay for his domestic agenda. at that time, at least, in his mind, the "cost of the war" was part of "military spending".

now, what he means tonight, or tomorrow, is a different matter entirely.  but that is what he meant when he last touched on the subject, in his own evasive sort of way.

[Rebel]

"Single payer health care", "Employee Freedom of Choice Act", BOTH BLATANT oxymorons.

[The Village Idiot]

Long story short....Barney Frank's male whore house is no longer profitable.

I thought O's 10% cut was bad enough thanks

[Wretched Excess]

"Single payer health care", "Employee Freedom of Choice Act", BOTH BLATANT oxymorons.

 . . . and scary as hell.  srsly.

[Airwolf]

Might as well say **** it and pack up our shit and go home. Let those dime store wanna be hero's defend themselves from the world and see how long it takes them to realize that we and others like us were the only thing between them and having their heads used for a polo match with camels

[franksolich]

.....see how long it takes them to realize that we and others like us were the only thing between them and having their heads used for a polo match with camels.

Damn, I like that idea.

Camels playing polo with primitive heads.

I wonder if somebody else already has the television rights to the matches.

Damn, that's good, sir.