Community | September 17, 2009 | 54 comments

Staggering $636.3 billion Approved for the Department of Defense FY 2010

source: http://www.defense-aerospace.com/article-view/release/108006/senate-panel-kills-f136-engine,...

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Incredulous
As we sit back and watch the freedoms and benefits of being an American auctioned off to the highest bidder, our tax dollars are going, in record numbers, to the Department of Defense. I guess this explains why the government can't do much to help with rising energy costs, health care, job loss, homelessness, loss of retirement savings or any of the other trickle down the American people are experiencing. Our government is maxed out funding global warfare. Take a long, hard look at the bill your representatives just passed for the Department of Defense, and imagine if you will, the defense contracts that will come out of this appropriation. I'd like to think this might translate into jobs for American citizens, but how does this kind of defense spending really impact the livelihood of the average American citizen? Are we safer, more secure? Have our representatives or our president initiated salary caps for CEOs who do business with the Federal government so that our tax dollars aren't making a handful of defense contracting CEOs filthy rich while the average American scrambles for money to pay the skyrocketing light bill? I don't know the answer to these questions. Anyone?


If you want to see the complete summary, there is a link at the bottom of this page:
http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news.cfm?method=news.view&id=e69371e7-c...
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54 comments // Staggering $636.3 billion Approved for the Department of Defense FY 2010

  • WhiteNoise
  • WhiteNoise
    • 0
      WhiteNoise  

    • Daniel Ellsberg....What a true hero of humanity indeed !

      He just refused to be treated as an INSECT ;)

      We all could learn a thing or two from his rebellious attitude....

      ARE WE TREATED AS INSECTS ?
      http://current.com/items/90030349_are-we-treated-as-insects.htm

      "A time comes when silence is betrayal; we are called to speak for the weak, for the voiceless, for the victims of our nation, for those it calls 'enemy." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    • 2 years ago
  • jubal
    • 0
      jubal  

    • I have a taped lecture that I filmed myself of Daniel Ellsberg doing a lecture at our local community college, just before the 2000 election. He came to warn us that Bush was going to become the president and that the same bunch of people he went up against during the Vietnam war, are back to take the Whitehouse again. He wasn't talking about GWB, he was talking about Cheney, Rumsfeld, and a few others.

    • 2 years ago
  • WhiteNoise
    • 0
      WhiteNoise  

    • FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION LACK OF EMPATHY ;)

      NIXON & KISSINGER ADMIRABLY SHOWED THE WAY TO OUR PRESENT WAR LORDS...

      "The Most Dangerous Man in America"

      New Documentary Chronicles Story of Daniel Ellsberg, Whose Leak of the Pentagon Papers Helped End Vietnam War

      Daniel Ellsberg once faced espionage charges and possibly life in prison after leaking what became known as the Pentagon Papers, a 7,000-page classified history outlining the true extent of US involvement in Vietnam. Daniel Ellsbergs actions directly contributed to the end of Nixon presidency and the Vietnam War.

      DN! Story of Daniel Ellsberg (1\3)
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xspkphIyQW0
      DN! Story of Daniel Ellsberg (2\3)
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fg1xhSek6bE&feature=related
      DN! Story of Daniel Ellsberg (3\3)
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3cNERtf8fo&feature=related

      PS : HISTORY HAS A NASTY HABIT OF REPEATING ITSELF WHEN IGNORED

      EXECUTIVE RESUME

      "We are watching a poorly staged rendition of Wag the Dog , interpreted for the morbidly stupid and performed by the criminally insane." - Jules Carlysle

    • 2 years ago
  • stopnoise
  • carmalite
    • 0
      carmalite  

    • Manuel, much of the defense spending is wasteful and blantant give aways for political patronage (Halliburton and others come to mind.) Much of it has nothing to do with defense.
      Why do we have troops in peaceful countries like Germany? Why not spend on making our country itself very very safe?

    • 2 years ago
  • Manuel_Trujillo
  • jubal
  • bailey78
  • Progresshiv
  • Reaper26
    • 0
      Reaper26  

    • http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy10/pdf/fy10-newera.pdf

      if you want projected budgets pg 53 is where the defense funds start.

      in my opinion the DOD needs to stop contracting out. use the guys we have in the armed forces they know what they're doing. besides haliburton is a debacle of shoty work there have been many reports them doing shoty work in soliders bases in iraq and afganistan. and if you need proof let me know ill dig up for any panzies here that dont believe.

    • 2 years ago
  • Cochiese
    • 0
      Cochiese  

    • Those numbers are sad to see reported. if you gave 230 million citizens 200 grand only if they created a business that compliments obama green stimulus package plan. Just an idea.......

    • 2 years ago
  • stopnoise
    • 0
      stopnoise  

    • I am just wondering here if the children that lost their parents to social conflicts and AIDs in Africa would hate me because I am helping them. Humm, what is the sentence I am looking for here...Oh yeah! "Plant war and you will harvest destruction!" Plant kindness and you will harvest Love!" Do you think that makes any sense? Maybe not! War is more fun right? You get to kill and destroy other people lives and habitats. You get to invade their Country! That's fun, right?

    • 2 years ago
  • Reaper26
  • jubal
  • WhiteNoise
  • Manuel_Trujillo
  • Manuel_Trujillo
  • WhiteNoise
  • Incredulous
  • hunzedog
    • 0
      hunzedog  

    • I remember hearing about this guy who was going to stop all this. What was his name....? BO guess he changed his mind about everything he promised. i just cant believe how many others cant remember that either.

    • 2 years ago
  • Manuel_Trujillo
    • 0
      Manuel_Trujillo  

    • WhiteNoise: Your response in no way answers any of the questions that I asked. Do you suggest we just quit defense spending, and sit back while other countries conquer and rule everything?

      If we sit, and do not continue to build our defense, there will be a day that the conquerers will use the mighty military that they have built, and use the dirty americans as slaves, rape and pillage our cities, and eliminate the what is the Greatest country on this earth.

      Yes, we have our flaws. But we live the most lavish, and sheltered lives in the world. We have anything at our fingertips.

      Tell me, what country would you rather live in? If not here, I am sure it will be a country that the US backs and defends.

    • 2 years ago
  • jubal
  • WhiteNoise
    • 0
      WhiteNoise  
    • Image

    • Dear Manuel,

      you seem to be totally unaware of the inner workings of the american empire...

      May I suggest a little reading ?

      This one reads like a spy novel ;)

      Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confessions_of_an_Economic_Hit_Man

      Ever heard of Howard Zinn or Chomsky ?

      Uncle Sam may not be the victim of mean dirty commies as he's prop up to be ;)

      "I believe that if we had and would keep our dirty, bloody, dollar-soaked fingers out of the business of these nations so full of depressed, exploited people, they will arrive at a solution of their own -- and if unfortunately their revolution must be of the violent type because the "haves" refuse to share with the "have-nots" by any peaceful method, at least what they get will be their own, and not the American style, which they don't want and above all don't want crammed down their throats by Americans. ": -- General David M. Shoup - Commandant of the Marine Corps 1960-63, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor - Source: May 14, 1966

      "The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do." : Samuel P. Huntington

      Meanwhile in our backyard...

      Cost of War in Iraq
      $683,380,305,888
      Cost of War in Afghanistan
      $227,016,709,458

      The cost in your community
      www.nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182

    • 2 years ago
  • Manuel_Trujillo
    • 0
      Manuel_Trujillo  
    • WhiteNoise:

      Your response in no way answers any of the questions that I asked. Do you suggest we just quit defense spending, and sit back while other countries conquer and rule everything?

      If we sit, and do not continue to build our defense, there will be a day that the conquerers will use the mighty military that they have built, and use the dirty americans as slaves, rape and pillage our cities, and eliminate the what is the Greatest country on this earth.

      Yes, we have our flaws. But we live the most lavish, and sheltered lives in the world. We have anything at our fingertips.

      I guess that would be your solution?

    • 2 years ago
  • Manuel_Trujillo
    • 0
      Manuel_Trujillo  

    • Better question: Would you stand by and let other world powers simply overthrow our friends and allies, and build bigger armies, while we sit by and enjoy ourselves with the money we save?

    • 2 years ago
  • carmalite
  • Manuel_Trujillo
    • 0
      Manuel_Trujillo  
    • Manuel_Trujillo:

      Sadly we aren't all fighting with tanks, and planes anymore. Not only major world powers have nuclear weapons these days, but many smaller and unstable countries have joined the nuke race... and many other COMPLETELY unstable countries are working on acquiring them now.

    • 2 years ago
  • samthesixth
  • Manuel_Trujillo
    • 0
      Manuel_Trujillo  

    • Who will defend us from all of Commies? Doesn't anybody read about the power push of China?

      There are a lot of countries who would like to take the place as the most powerful country on this earth. I believe that we all live a much more luxurious life then most in the world, and I am willing to defend that!

    • 2 years ago
  • carmalite
    • 0
      carmalite  
    • Manuel_Trujillo:

      I think we have to worry more about the Jihadists than the Communists.

      China our banker, is now a weird form of capitalistic quasi-totalitarian communism fascism and is going to bury us economically because our corporations were so greedy that they decided to outsource all our industries and decent factory jobs
      .China is a threat, but unless we rebuild our industrial base, we have already lost there. I think our luxurious life will slowely become less and less unless some changes are made. If you are in the right career, you will survive.

    • 2 years ago
  • Manuel_Trujillo
    • 0
      Manuel_Trujillo  
    • Manuel_Trujillo:

      The really is no reason to worry, I guess it just depends on if you want your children to speak Chineese, or if you want them to be born in the USA.

      I guess it depends if you want the best side to be the dominant force on this planet someday. Things aren't as simple, and as little as they seem.

      Soon, there will be a one world order. US or THEM?

    • 2 years ago
  • Incredulous
  • emarston
  • carmalite
    • 0
      carmalite  
    • emarston:

      A Blackwater soldier makes 4 times what an ordinary soldier makes. So privatization of the military results in vast cost increases and lack of the solid accountability and dicipline of the regular military.
      Why the privatization? Because Bush's buds get to steal as much as possible. The Republican supporters get the pay back.

      Its a crime against the taxpayer to have these crooks. I am sick of my taxes subsidizing private corporate thieves.

    • 2 years ago
  • Revelation_Machine
    • 0
      Revelation_Machine  

    • If you liked Bush, good for you. If you like Obama, good for you. If you don't believe people are trying to turn America Communist, good for you.

      But where the F#CK is all this money coming from? If you don't believe any of those stories about whats happening, atleast explain to me WHERE IS THIS MONEY COMING FROM!?!?

    • 2 years ago
  • boywhocould
  • NeutronActivation
  • artist_speaks_out
  • Cochiese
    • 0
      Cochiese  

    • Who are we defending ourselves against? All along I actually thought that every human being was equal. If we share 1 planet how did we become divided?

    • 2 years ago
  • jubal
  • deadpool
  • WhiteNoise
    • 0
      WhiteNoise  

    • INDEED...

      "It is a tragic mix-up when the United States spends $500,000 for every enemy soldier killed, and only $53 annually on the victims of poverty.": Martin Luther King, Jr. - 1929-1968
      ...AND IT ONLY GOT WORST FROM THEN ON...

    • 2 years ago
  • besic
    • 0
      besic  

    • What a terrible waste! Truly sad for the people of this country, they will never have a government that invests this much in them.

    • 2 years ago
  • WhiteNoise
    • 0
      WhiteNoise  
    • Image

    • TELL ME SOMETHING I DON'T KNOW ;)

      HALLIBURTON / KBR STEALING US BLIND !
      http://current.com/items/89801957_halliburton-kbr-stealing-us-blind.htm

      PENTAGON SCORES A BIGGER RIP-OFF THAN BAILOUT !
      http://current.com/items/89342370_pentagon-scores-a-bigger-rip-off-than-bailout....

      "I believe that if we had and would keep our dirty, bloody, dollar-soaked fingers out of the business of these nations so full of depressed, exploited people, they will arrive at a solution of their own -- and if unfortunately their revolution must be of the violent type because the "haves" refuse to share with the "have-nots" by any peaceful method, at least what they get will be their own, and not the American style, which they don't want and above all don't want crammed down their throats by Americans. ": -- General David M. Shoup - Commandant of the Marine Corps 1960-63, winner of the Congressional Medal of Honor - Source: May 14, 1966

      "The plutocrats believe there are some things worse than war: the confiscation of special privileges; the abolition of unearned income; the overthrow of the economic parasitism; the establishment of industrial democracy. The plutocrats would welcome a war that promised salvation from any such calamities; they would also welcome a war that promised greater foreign markets, the destruction of foreign competition, more security for property rights and a longer lease on life for plutocratic despotism." - Scott Nearing — 1917

      "To initiate a war of aggression...is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime, differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." -Nuremberg tribunal

      MAKING THE WORLD SAFE FOR HYPOCRISY AIN'T CHEAP ;)
      http://www.mtwsfh.blogspot.com/

    • 2 years ago
  • WhiteNoise
    • 0
      WhiteNoise  
    • WhiteNoise:

      "I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all members of the military profession I never had an original thought until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher- ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service." : General Smedley Butler. USMC (Ret.)

      THE SMEDLEY BUTLER SOCIETY
      http://warisaracket.org/

      “What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or in the holy name of liberty and democracy ? ” - Gandhi

    • 2 years ago
  • carmalite
  • Incredulous
    • 0
      Incredulous  
    • WhiteNoise:

      "hey will arrive at a solution of their own "

      now that's what the GOP keeps telling us about corporations and health reform...if the government will just back off, the markets will arrive at a solution of their own...and we all know what that feels like.

      not advocating US involvement anywhere, just noting the irony in their arguments

    • 2 years ago
  • masterzip
  • Relevations
  • Progresshiv
  • Ares
  • Progresshiv
  • Ares
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