Trump said he could find 300 billion in waste and abuse. That is a low number actually.
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All you listed there adds to about 1 billion. Not even 1% of the 300 billion he said he is cutting.
The two big expenses in the budget are the military and Social security/ Medicare . Without touching those two you aren't making a dent unless you add more money to the pot with taxes.
That's why no one has done anything about it.
This is just one example using Afghanistan. There is still Iraq not mentioned in dollars spent/spending.
We still have to deal with ISIS and at some point crush them. Then the gravy train will head down the same track to rebuild there. We are in a mess and no amount of excuses will change that fact. I support the guy that knows how to build under budget and on time or ahead of time. Politicians can'T do it, don't do it, don't know how to do it.
Some of this came out of the military budget. It was military equipment in some cases. Do we really need more excuses why this is OK ?
This is just one example using Afghanistan. There is still Iraq not mentioned in dollars spent/spending.
We still have to deal with ISIS and at some point crush them. Then the gravy train will head down the same track to rebuild there. We are in a mess and no amount of excuses will change that fact.
Agree and sadly it will not change no matter who is in power this country is run and controlled by big business and if you or others think this will change by electing someone that is part of big business and even admits to buying politicians from both sides to do his bidding then good luck with that.
Many of our countries decisions like Iraq etc are being driven by business decisions. Capitalism at its worse.
Not that I'm trying to justify it or trying to suggest there wasn't waste but that is a misleading statement.
Firstly all of the funds used in Europe were for reconstruction, 60% of the funding for Afghanistan was used to arm and train Afghan troops.
More importantly the European funding was about 5% of GDP, Afghanistan was something like .5%
I cited the link. What do you have to back your opinion ?
The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) said in a statement to Congress last week that when adjusted for inflation the $113.1 billion plowed into the chaos-riven country outstripped the post-WWII spend by at least $10 billion.
Agree and sadly it will not change no matter who is in power this country is run and controlled by big business and if you or others think this will change by electing someone that is part of big business and even admits to buying politicians from both sides to do his bidding then good luck with that.
Many of our countries decisions like Iraq etc are being driven by business decisions. Capitalism at its worse.
It may not work. But what we have been doing isn't working either. I have run into similar situations in my work life. When what I was doing didn't work. I had to change something to make it work. We hold election to change things too. We always hold them on time and nothing changes. We are not getting the formula right. But we don't stop having elections. We do put different people in power. Maybe it's time to try one that isn't own by donors but is trying to be defeated by them.
Afghanistan has huge economic benefits to many MULTINATIONAL corporations. It has no benefit whatsoever to the the average American. And every dollar we spent there will show a zero return for the United States. Of course, there are many shareholders (representing a small % of Americans) who have and will benefit tremendously from the invasion and occupation.
Afghanistan has huge economic benefits to many MULTINATIONAL corporations. It has no benefit whatsoever to the the average American. And every dollar we spent there will show a zero return for the United States. Of course, there are many shareholders (representing a small % of Americans) who have and will benefit tremendously from the invasion and occupation.
The United States has now spent more money reconstructing Afghanistan than it did rebuilding Europe at the end of World War II. Billions have been squandered on projects that were either useless or sub-standard, or lost to waste, corruption, and systemic abuse,
1. $486 million for 'deathtrap' aircraft that were later sold for scrap at $32,000
2. $335 million on a power plant that used just 1 percent of its capacity.
3. Almost $500,000 on buildings that 'melted' in the rain.
4. $34.4 million on a soybean program for a country that doesn't eat soybeans.
("They didn't grow them, they didn't eat them, there was no market for them, and yet we thought it was a good idea,")
5. One general's explanation why 1,600 fire-prone buildings weren't a problem.
6. A $600,000 hospital where infants were washed in dirty river water.
Cash Buys Medieval Hospital in Afghanistan.
7. $36 million on a military facility that several generals didn't want.
8. $39.6 million that created an awkward conversation for the U.S. ambassador.
9. $3 million for the purchase — and then mystery cancellation — of eight boats.
10. $7.8 billion fighting drugs — while Afghans grow more opium than ever.
11. $7.8 million on a nearly-empty business park.
12. $81.9 million on incinerators that either weren't used or harmed troops.
( likely additional money paid for VA disability claims )
This is how politicians spend money. Not a care in the world, no oversight and who went to Jail for it ?
What business person would run an operation like this ? Iraq was as bad or worse. Yet no one can find a reason for the tax payer anger. We're all just fat dumb and happy when this is done because it's done looking presidential. WTF
That doesn't take in to consideration all we are set to spend on nation building. What could we have done with that money to build infrastructure here in the USA ?
All that crap benefited insider US contractors. Probably did very little for Afghans.
Correct.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beach Sportsfan
All you listed there adds to about 1 billion. Not even 1% of the 300 billion he said he is cutting.
The two big expenses in the budget are the military and Social security/ Medicare . Without touching those two you aren't making a dent unless you add more money to the pot with taxes.
That's why no one has done anything about it.
There you go spending money again. You're looking at it all wrong.
They need to sell them to the government for ten times what they are worth. That's where the money is.
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