Rome went under because of Decadence.....will the US go the same way? (economic, money)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We could use our money much more wisely though to build a stronger country -for example by investing less in defense and more in R&D /technology/science.
A lot of R&D/technology/science breakthroughs come from the defense sector. Ditto for NASA.
Stronger defense = stronger nation. With China being the up-and-coming superpower and Russia choosing to start throwing its weight around again, the last thing we should do is weaken our defense capabilities.
There are plenty of places the federal budget should be cut - the military isn't one of them.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
68,325 posts, read 54,330,205 times
Reputation: 40716
Quote:
Originally Posted by swagger
A lot of R&D/technology/science breakthroughs come from the defense sector. Ditto for NASA.
Stronger defense = stronger nation. With China being the up-and-coming superpower and Russia choosing to start throwing its weight around again, the last thing we should do is weaken our defense capabilities.
There are plenty of places the federal budget should be cut - the military isn't one of them.
And people should learn the vast difference between defense and being unsatisfied with the ability to blow up the world offensively 30 times over and asking for billions more $$$ in order to have the capability to blow it up 60 times over.
Stronger defense = stronger nation. With China being the up-and-coming superpower and Russia choosing to start throwing its weight around again, the last thing we should do is weaken our defense capabilities.
There are plenty of places the federal budget should be cut - the military isn't one of them.
I am for strong defense but we need to avoid waste or give blank checks to warmongers. We spend more in defense than the next 15 countries combined. Simple problem - if you do not have money, you cannot have a strong defence. Last I checked, we do not have enough money and neither China nor Russia were about to attack us. Terrorism is a big issue but the Iraq war did not help as it was un-needed -- meaning, if we use our defense money properly, there is already plenty of it right now.
[quote=swagger;5489565]A lot of R&D/technology/science breakthroughs come from the defense sector. Ditto for NASA.
Right, for only 10 trillion we got Teflon pots, which we now find are poison.
For the same cash that gave ua a pic of US flag on moon,we could have had 10 million new homes free and clear.
A lot of R&D/technology/science breakthroughs come from the defense sector. Ditto for NASA.
Right, for only 10 trillion we got Teflon pots, which we now find are poison.
For the same cash that gave ua a pic of US flag on moon,we could have had 10 million new homes free and clear.
I think they are poison only if the food cooked on them is burnt?
I use olive oil . Teflon or not after awhile they scratch,just get old and burn food .
When you eat about 16 oz of hot and Spicey Sausage every day for dinner Teflon poison is least of one's problems .
A lot of R&D/technology/science breakthroughs come from the defense sector. Ditto for NASA.
Stronger defense = stronger nation. With China being the up-and-coming superpower and Russia choosing to start throwing its weight around again, the last thing we should do is weaken our defense capabilities.
There are plenty of places the federal budget should be cut - the military isn't one of them.
We'll be forced to cut on the military, kicking and screaming most likely.
Decadence certainly plays a major role in the fall of any empire. However, decadence isn't the cause, it's just a symptom.
My parents and grandparents lived through the great depression and didn't suffer much at all. They were people who lived within their means and didn't spend money they didn't have. They actually did quite well. Jobs were tough to find but they had savings and made the most of what they had. When the value of real estate dropped, my maternal grandparents were able to buy a very nice house in Charlottesville, VA and were able to move out of the overpriced rat trap in the city they had lived in during the roaring twenties.
Decadence was very visible in the twenties but the real problem was exactly the same overindulgence and borrowing that's kicking our butts today. You might notice that in the twenties, most of the houses built in what were then suburbs tended to be monstrous houses crammed onto tiny lots very much like the McMansions of today while houses built in the 30s and 40s were smaller and more functional with enough yard to have a vegetable garden.
Decadence doesn't condemn an empire to failure but it's certainly a sign that something is wrong.
I am for strong defense but we need to avoid waste or give blank checks to warmongers. We spend more in defense than the next 15 countries combined. Simple problem - if you do not have money, you cannot have a strong defence. Last I checked, we do not have enough money and neither China nor Russia were about to attack us. Terrorism is a big issue but the Iraq war did not help as it was un-needed -- meaning, if we use our defense money properly, there is already plenty of it right now.
Just wanted to add something I saw after the above post: Military force, technology have limits, Defense Secretary Robert Gates warns - Los Angeles Times
Quote from above: Gates' remarks were in sharp contrast to the views of his predecessor, Donald H. Rumsfeld, who believed that high-technology advances could help shorten wars and allow conflicts to be fought with ever fewer forces.
"Be modest about what military force can accomplish and what technology can accomplish," Gates said.
How Should We Then Live? The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture
by Francis A. Schaeffer
Find it, read it. IMO an an excellent analysis of the fall of Rome, progressing forward.
A lot of R&D/technology/science breakthroughs come from the defense sector. Ditto for NASA.
Right, for only 10 trillion we got Teflon pots, which we now find are poison.
For the same cash that gave ua a pic of US flag on moon,we could have had 10 million new homes free and clear.
Isn't it ironic that the Chinese are poised to repeat that scenario?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
.
