Why does america spend so much money in military....

[DukeDelonte13]

The issue is whether you trust the government or private insurance as your middleman. Historically, government programs are inefficient. Private entities seek to make a profit so minimizing waste is a part of the their business model. I think they can find a way to adapt and market themselves to patients and providers to compete with a standard bare bones public option. We both agree reform is needed, but the ACA was a step in the wrong direction completely

I'd rather trust a non profit for my healthcare then somebody trying to make a dime off of me.

Do people critically think about the sh*t they say?

The whole purpose of medical insurance companies is to MAKE MONEY OF YOU, not to ensure you get healthcare. They do everything under their power NOT TO COVER YOU. Therein lies the problem. It's an inherently unfair system when the item being bargained for (healthcare coverage) is a necessity. The side selling that good has ultimate power. The consumer has little to none. That's why the ACA was passed, to try and level out the playing field a little bit.

[CP3PO]

We can cut the budget so much and help so many programs within the country, and still have the largest military budget in the world. How Republicans are ok with this socialist concept but not ones that help our country is beyond me.

[UK2K]

I'd rather trust a non profit for my healthcare then somebody trying to make a dime off of me.

Do people critically think about the sh*t they say?

The whole purpose of medical insurance companies is to MAKE MONEY OF YOU, not to ensure you get healthcare. They do everything under their power NOT TO COVER YOU. Therein lies the problem. It's an inherently unfair system when the item being bargained for (healthcare coverage) is a necessity. The side selling that good has ultimate power. The consumer has little to none. That's why the ACA was passed, to try and level out the playing field a little bit.

Wrong. If they did everything under their power to NOT cover people, how would they get money?

They do everything in their power to NOT cover someone who will, undoubtedly, cost the insurance company more than they'll ever actually pay.

Shame on them, yeah?

For all those people, they should have just been thrown into the same shitty healthcare system our veterans are in. I've suggested that since this debate began years ago, and although everyone tells me 'that's not fair', I've yet to hear a reason why its fair for our veterans but not for anyone else.

You want free healthcare? Awesome, go to the VA and wait in line. Hopefully it's nothing serious, because the wait is years. We can get rid of this mandatory tax at the same time.

I think that's pretty fair. Agree or disagree?

[Draz]

Power, control, authority, etc. It's a chain.

[Nick Young]

We are the best.

[Dresta]

Power, control, authority, etc. It's a chain.

Yes, but it would never have been permitted without the two world wars and the Cold War that followed; and the truth is, that once these things have become ingrained, they are very difficult to get rid of. There was an opportunity for a scale back at the end of the Cold War, but NATO is still here, and America continues to spend insane amounts of money on "defense," because too many Americans bought into the trope of humanitarian intervention, and the implicit belief that Americans should control the world and protect it from abuse (a policy pursued and backed by Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Obama).

The American tradition prior to the middle period of the 20th century was largely one of not getting involved in the squabbles and disputes of foreign powers; now it presents itself as a kind of celestial world police, rectifying injustices wherever they may be, and violating national sovereignty whenever they choose (something which far more often helps nefarious interests than humane ones).

Unsurprisingly, the loss of this tradition fitted pretty neatly with the changing of the Departments of War and Navy to the Department of Defense. Much less honest, and a clear sign a population has stopped thinking realistically, and started deluding itself (or being deluded by others).

[shlver]

I'd rather trust a non profit for my healthcare then somebody trying to make a dime off of me.

Do people critically think about the sh*t they say?

The whole purpose of medical insurance companies is to MAKE MONEY OF YOU, not to ensure you get healthcare. They do everything under their power NOT TO COVER YOU. Therein lies the problem. It's an inherently unfair system when the item being bargained for (healthcare coverage) is a necessity. The side selling that good has ultimate power. The consumer has little to none. That's why the ACA was passed, to try and level out the playing field a little bit.

Aren't you trying to make a dime? Aren't the doctors, surgeons, nurses all trying to make a living? Everyone that buys into this society is trying to make a living including the people the insurance companies employ. Do you think critically about what you say? It's nice to think in platitudes but again look at the track record of the federal government and its social programs. Look at them honestly. To think that because mistakes and abuses happen in this system, they will not happen in your proposed system is a logical fallacy. Billions of dollars are lost due to fraud and inefficiency in medicaid and medicare funds.
The real problem lies in big money's influence on shills in congress. Again, the middleman is the government or private insurance companies. When I look at government programs I see inefficiency and waste, insurance companies have built in profit incentives to minimize waste. Without money influence and government laws and regulations giving insurance companies all the leverage and a leg to stand on, legislation to stop the abuses you outline can make headway. Forbid insurance lobby contributions, repeal government legislation that create insurance monopolies, and form a public option that takes into account lifestyle choices which in turn affects a scaling tax rate. Some semblance of responsibility is important imo...

[Godzuki]

the far left liberal kumbaya peace fgts don't realize the military is a key factor in being the strongest country in the world. economical influence unto itself doesn't make you shit. you need might to back it up otherwise a country that doesn't give a fukk about political correctness can go right in and tear your ass up, strongest economy or not. Japan is weak as fukk with no military might to back their interests up while China bullies everyone around them because of their military.

the reason we, the US, dictates is because we're by far the strongest militaristic country in the world. that is more key to our influence than us being the strongest economy.

look at europe getting bullied by Putin. they're helpless because they put all of their money into non military interests.

[Nanners]

Aren't you trying to make a dime? Aren't the doctors, surgeons, nurses all trying to make a living? Everyone that buys into this society is trying to make a living including the people the insurance companies employ. Do you think critically about what you say? It's nice to think in platitudes but again look at the track record of the federal government and its social programs. Look at them honestly. To think that because mistakes and abuses happen in this system, they will not happen in your proposed system is a logical fallacy. Billions of dollars are lost due to fraud and inefficiency in medicaid and medicare funds.

theres nothing wrong with making a dime, what matters is how you make it

doctors, surgeons and nurses are incentivized to provide healthcare. private insurers are incentivized to withhold care.

[Hawker]

One of the dumber things Trump says, and I'm no Trump hater. Actually not dumb, he's just a demagogue who knows much of the American public doesn't know any better.

"Yeahhhh! If Japan and Germany want US soldiers in their country they better pay us for it!"

Those US foreign military bases exist only as a courtesy to the US. (historical reasons aside) The US military desperately wants the real estate and global presence while most of those countries really could care less and are simply doing a favor to their long-time ally.

Are you saying this is for all bases or some? Because this is simply not true. Singapore's dictator, lee kuan yew, always supported a strong US prescence in asia-pacific and USA is obliged to give protection to Japan via a treaty and the Japanese support it.

USA and Australia struck a deal to establish a base in Australia for protection. It's simply not true that it's a courtesy - some countries do wants us there.

[ALBballer]

One of the dumber things Trump says, and I'm no Trump hater. Actually not dumb, he's just a demagogue who knows much of the American public doesn't know any better.

"Yeahhhh! If Japan and Germany want US soldiers in their country they better pay us for it!"

Those US foreign military bases exist only as a courtesy to the US. (historical reasons aside) The US military desperately wants the real estate and global presence while most of those countries really could care less and are simply doing a favor to their long-time ally.

I'm not saying the United States doesn't have their own interest for keeping military bases abroad because the reasons you cited are true aside from these countries not caring because they do benefit and even though they might object to some of these bases overall they would still prefer to have an American military presence than not have one.

I don't think we should be charging countries for military support all I'm saying is the United States should pull their bases out of these sovereign countries that can support themselves.

[LJJ]

Are you saying this is for all bases or some? Because this is simply not true. Singapore's dictator, lee kuan yew, always supported a strong US prescence in asia-pacific and USA is obliged to give protection to Japan via a treaty and the Japanese support it.

USA and Australia struck a deal to establish a base in Australia for protection. It's simply not true that it's a courtesy - some countries do wants us there.

Small states with limited power will gladly take US protection. Singapore and Taiwan are happy (even though US presence is very limited there) simply because it puts a check on China while they are powerless against their surroundings. I'm sure a country like Qatar is happy.

Big countries with powerful militaries? Japan? Australia? Korea? Germany? Etcetera. Even Australia. US Military presence exists there because the US very much wants to be there and strongly pushes for it. That's the US military-industrial complex and imperialism at work, not those countries asking and wanting to be defended. All of those countries would laugh if Trump comes with his bill for defending the country. "You invite yourself into my house and then expect me to pay you?". That's not the way the world works. If the US wants to save money they simply have to cease operations, and nobody would complain about that.

[KyrieTheFuture]

the far left liberal kumbaya peace fgts don't realize the military is a key factor in being the strongest country in the world. economical influence unto itself doesn't make you shit. you need might to back it up otherwise a country that doesn't give a fukk about political correctness can go right in and tear your ass up, strongest economy or not. Japan is weak as fukk with no military might to back their interests up while China bullies everyone around them because of their military.

the reason we, the US, dictates is because we're by far the strongest militaristic country in the world. that is more key to our influence than us being the strongest economy.

look at europe getting bullied by Putin. they're helpless because they put all of their money into non military interests.

Jesus shut the **** up. Is it possible to be more incorrect than you? Maybe LJJ but at least he writes a coherent sentence.

[Hawker]

Small states with limited power will gladly take US protection. Singapore and Taiwan are happy (even though US presence is very limited there) simply because it puts a check on China while they are powerless against their surroundings. I'm sure a country like Qatar is happy.

Big countries with powerful militaries? Japan? Australia? Korea? Germany? Etcetera. Even Australia. US Military presence exists there because the US very much wants to be there and strongly pushes for it. That's the US military-industrial complex and imperialism at work, not those countries asking and wanting to be defended. All of those countries would laugh if Trump comes with his bill for defending the country. "You invite yourself into my house and then expect me to pay you?". That's not the way the world works. If the US wants to save money they simply have to cease operations, and nobody would complain about that.

Australia isn't that powerful. They still need/want America's help. Same with Korea and Japan. I disagree it's all a one way street in some countries as there are indications (treaties, agreements from each countries' governments etc.) that allows this to happen.

[LJJ]

Australia isn't that powerful. They still need/want America's help. Same with Korea and Japan. I disagree it's all a one way street in some countries as there are indications (treaties, agreements from each countries' governments etc.) that allows this to happen.

They need American soldiers and military bases in their country for what? Simply being allies would be more than enough.

Korea has tons of military force in case of emergency, but at least they actually have a hostile threat on their border. There is some justification. I think they have more soldiers than even the US though. The treaty with Japan is just the one stemming from WW2, outdated and unnecessary. It's actually meant to keep Japan down in a military sense. Australia is under pressing threat from who, exactly?

America wants a global profile. They'll put a military base in any country that won't say no.