Posted on 08/05/2011 11:06:56 AM PDT by Rufus2007
One of the strengths of the United States of America is its military power, with a global reach unlike any other country in the world. But could that power wane to fulfill a vision of what President Barack Obama and other countries have for the country?
On Hugh Hewitt’s Thursday radio program, National Review columnist Mark Steyn, who has a forthcoming book called “After America,” explained the United States won’t be able to maintain its military prowess and create a social welfare system on par with Sweden at the same time. And he suggested Americans get used to the latter.
...more (w/ audio)...
(Excerpt) Read more at thedc.com ...
Right, but push come to shove, the Brits had the US for a safety net.
If we turn ourselves into a 'kiss a$# nation' instead of a 'kick a%$ nation', who will have OUR back?
I can’t think of anyone. Those who elected Obama got a pig in a poke. Joe the Plumber confronted him during the campaign, and tried to tell people what he was; although with all the money that has been spent on education, the American people still haven’t been taught what Socialism or Marxism is - nor have they sought out the meaning on their own. If it has to crash on its own, the American people are in for a lesson the hard way.
You’re right.
I don’t know why Liberals can’t comprehend anything so obvious.
Personally, I am not ready for the cold shower THAT will be.
“...with all the money that has been spent on education, the American people still haven’t been taught what Socialism or Marxism is...”
Also:
‘…all the money that has been spent’… was spent to assure that students do NOT comprehend what Socialism and Marxism mean.
We, as taxpayers, have been coerced into funding our own end.
Americans with school age children ought certainly to be de-programming (in their homes-and by their example) everything that is force fed to their kids in the ‘classroom’.
No he doesn’t. “We” should choose neither. Bring the troops home AND dismantle the welfare state.
BTW, the Swedes have traditionally spent quite a lot on their military, in terms of GDP. In effect, they created a welfare/warfare state, just like FDR, LBJ, and Nixon.
NATO had just ONE aircraft carrier, France's Charles de Gaulle, which had to return to port before operations were complete.
The UK has NO carriers right now and when they finish building their new one they'll have NO aircraft to deploy with it because the Harriers are retired and the JSF won't be ready.
It's clear America has carried the burden of maintaining peace and protecting the West for far too long. Its paper tiger "allies" have allowed their own militaries to atrophy knowing the United States will pick up the slack.
Guns versus butter, and butter usually wins. The US is in decline as a global power. The people will choose the welfare state over defense, but the reality is that we won’t be able to afford the welfare state even after we strip the defense budget.
Swedish defence spending ranks among the highest in the Central Europe/Baltic region, second to Poland, however real term growth is stagnant if not negative and spending as a proportion of overall government revenue is declining. Sweden’s strong traditional support for its domestic defence industry is also weakening with the government looking to increase procurement of cheaper, non-indigenous equipment.The Swedish Defense has traditionally been 1.5 per cent of GDP. With the restructuring of forces set out by the 2004 Defense Resolution (Forsvorsbeslutet) restructuring and the 2008 Ministry of Finance (ESV) resolutions, the percentage of GDP allocated to defence eroded between 2005 - 2009 to a low of 1.34 per cent of GDP.
‘We were given a choice between war and dishonor...and, we chose dishonor. We will get war.’
They also are reducing conscription throughout Europe. That masks the actual contribution in terms of military costs. Italian and French conscripts were not paid very well. The US pays it’s service members well, VERY well when you include housing and subsitence allowances for junior members that no private company would match. Once upon a time, the US drafted many members and married folks were exempt.
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