I’m sure that you know at least as much about our defense requirements as our current Commander in Chief, but that doesn’t mean that either one of you are right about this issue. Every time that we have cashed in a “peace dividend”, we have paid a price in blood and treasure.
The United States currently spends less in GDP on defense since any time since 1940. The bloated growth in our federal budget is almost entirely in the individual entitlement programs which is nothing more than a politician vote buying scheme. Both parties do it and that’s what I am tired of seeing.
What you suggest is what Europe has done. They have disarmed in order to fund their bloated socialist programs. They will pay a very dear price for their folly.
Can’t say I’m better than the current Idiot In Chief, but how many other CVBGs are out there? How many operational SSNs? The USN has 900+ modern combat aircraft available - how many foreign air forces are that big? (Actually, if the USN got into a shooting war, I’d be more worried about the missile stocks; do we have enough missiles and PGMs to sustain combat?)
BTW, in 1940 we were starting a build up for WWII. We were not in it yet, but FDR was getting ready. And, despite those inadequate budgets, we managed to keep a fleet BBs operational, build the CVs that got us through the first part of WWII, and stock them with the latest in the fighters (F4F Wildcats) and dive bombers (SBD Dautlesses); we were a bit behind on torpedo bombers - the Devastator was a death trap, but the Avenger was actually in the works. Personally, I’d be looking at around 1929 for GDP share, but keeping an eye on potential rivals.
Yes, entitlements are bloating the budget. I would LOVE it if someone could tell me how to make them go away, or at least significantly cut them, but I don’t see a way to end or cut them There are too many soft heads and bleeding hearts out there who want to practice charity using somebody else’s time and money.
As I said, everybody will have to take a hit. If it were me, I’d cut ALL budgets by 40% (or whatever it took to balance the budget) and let them sort it out. THEN I’d get out the red pen and start zeroing stuff out (There are entire Bureaus and Departments I think should be zeroed out...). But it isn’t going to happen.