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Old 09-29-2007, 03:13 PM
 
Location: Florida
396 posts, read 396,612 times
Reputation: 53

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Hypothetical:

The USA goes completely neutral on military issues like Switzerland and Sweden have done. We liquidate our current military forces worldwide, and keep only a domestic civil defense force on the U.S. homeland. Global military issues are handled by the United Nations instead of us.

Think of the billions the U.S. saves that would have gone to funding our global military! The question is: What are the pros and cons of this hypothetical scenario?
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Old 09-29-2007, 03:23 PM
 
9,872 posts, read 10,772,492 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grew-up-3rd-culture View Post
Hypothetical:

The USA goes completely neutral on military issues like Switzerland and Sweden have done. We liquidate our current military forces worldwide, and keep only a domestic civil defense force on the U.S. homeland. Global military issues are handled by the United Nations instead of us.

Think of the billions the U.S. saves that would have gone to funding our global military! The question is: What are the pros and cons of this hypothetical scenario?
Well the only pro I can even remotely see would be the lowered tax rates, but of course we know that all those billions would just get spent some where else. the cons are the obvious basically everything you stated, we would know longer be that super power that so many countries around the world fear and rely on to keep things in balance, there would be chaos on a global scale! United Nations, Please.......
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Old 09-29-2007, 03:47 PM
 
Location: Your mind
2,935 posts, read 4,986,242 times
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Was there chaos on a global scale throughout most of the centuries before the US was a superpower? I don't know... honest question.
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Old 09-29-2007, 03:59 PM
 
Location: Florida
396 posts, read 396,612 times
Reputation: 53
Quote:
Originally Posted by fishmonger View Post
Was there chaos on a global scale throughout most of the centuries before the US was a superpower? I don't know... honest question.
From my own reading of history, no. Why? The technology wasn't there. Not until Europeans harnessed sailing did a "global empire" appear - that being the Portuguese in 1415. Fortunately, the Portuguese did not cause global chaos. Maybe just local chaos at times.
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Old 09-29-2007, 04:00 PM
 
Location: Hernando County, FL
8,488 posts, read 20,548,717 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fishmonger View Post
Was there chaos on a global scale throughout most of the centuries before the US was a superpower? I don't know... honest question.
You can not try and compare different centuries in this respect mainly due to the increased speed of travel and global trade.

When you look at a time when it would takes months on a boat to get to China whereas now you are on a plane for hours, there are just too many vastly different variables to compare.

An example of this could be something such as 9/11. Within hours world commerce was affected greatly.
Had this been 100 years ago, by the time the news reached other markets the affect would be diluted just due the time it took the news to reach.
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Old 09-29-2007, 04:03 PM
 
5,760 posts, read 11,496,154 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fishmonger View Post
Was there chaos on a global scale throughout most of the centuries before the US was a superpower? I don't know... honest question.
ALWAYS been wars and rumors of wars. Often in the same spots, same causes, with only the names changed to protect the gulity. You have read Charge of Light Brigade, or Larry of Arabia?

As far as taxes up or down -- at this point makes no difference. The war is not being funded by taxes, but rather by debt. Dual concurring stupidity. Needless wars with reduced taxes lead to national bankruptcy.

Which goes back to the OP. Not really an "if" just a "when" the US money and military collapses back into the US. We have built a dysfunctional mess -- a bloated Navy that is populated by sitting duck Aircraft Carriers from the cutting edge of 50 years ago -- an Army that is stalled out by folks with sticks and pipe bombs. The only folks on top of their game is the Air Force (except strangely not on 9-11?). The Air Force sucks down so much fuel, it is like burning money to keep them in the air.

So at this point we fight for oil to keep the machine going. If, if, if, we could just grab Iraq and Iran we could keep the game going. About like a junkie trying to take-over a pharmco factory.

Only thing lacking is a betting pool on when it implodes like the Soviet Union.
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Old 09-29-2007, 04:06 PM
 
Location: Florida
396 posts, read 396,612 times
Reputation: 53
Quote:
Originally Posted by Philip T View Post
If, if, if, we could just grab Iraq and Iran we could keep the game going. About like a junkie trying to take-over a pharmco factory.

Only thing lacking is a betting pool on when it implodes like the Soviet Union.
Wow.......
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Old 09-29-2007, 04:20 PM
 
Location: Pinal County, Arizona
25,100 posts, read 39,126,235 times
Reputation: 4937
Quote:
Originally Posted by grew-up-3rd-culture View Post
Hypothetical:

The USA goes completely neutral on military issues like Switzerland and Sweden have done. We liquidate our current military forces worldwide, and keep only a domestic civil defense force on the U.S. homeland. Global military issues are handled by the United Nations instead of us.

Think of the billions the U.S. saves that would have gone to funding our global military! The question is: What are the pros and cons of this hypothetical scenario?
All cons

No pros
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Old 09-29-2007, 04:28 PM
 
Location: Florida
396 posts, read 396,612 times
Reputation: 53
Default I think you're wrong

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greatday View Post
All cons

No pros
I think you're wrong, and this is why. The U.S. operates on just 35¢ of every dollar we generate. 65¢ goes to paying bills. Half of that 35¢ goes to the military. That means the rest of the entire nation has to function on just about 18¢! Can you do that?!
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Old 09-29-2007, 04:42 PM
 
Location: Pinal County, Arizona
25,100 posts, read 39,126,235 times
Reputation: 4937
Quote:
Originally Posted by grew-up-3rd-culture View Post
I think you're wrong, and this is why. The U.S. operates on just 35¢ of every dollar we generate. 65¢ goes to paying bills. Half of that 35¢ goes to the military. That means the rest of the entire nation has to function on just about 18¢! Can you do that?!
No Military equals no national security.

We live in a very violent world - and our nation would be ripe for attack

About the ONLY way your plan would even stand a smigidin of a chance would be if, every nation on the face of the planet gave up their military

I can guarantee you - that will never happen
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