[Registered]

The concrete illustration is in the fact that they spent $200,000 tax dollars on video games. Why not use the funds for improving weapons systems or as a bonus for heroic acts, or given to the family of a soldier killed in action? I mean, VIDEO GAMES? Anyone that feels this is an appropriate use of our Defense allocated tax dollars should review their 2002 1040 tax forms.

[xrp]

Anyone that feels this is an appropriate use of our Defense allocated tax dollars should review their 2002 1040 tax forms.

Actually...I reviewed the federal budget instead and really couldn't find ANY problem with $200,000 for providing Armed Forces personnel for an extremely inexpensive form of entertainment compared to the tens of billions (maybe hundreds of billions) that go to unproductive citizens of this country. I'm willing to pay taxes to give a little entertainment to the ones who defend my freedom and liberty. I am NOT willing to pay taxes to educate someone else's child, provide food for someone's family or pay for a ponsi scheme retirement scam that Congressmen and Senators convienently aren't partaking in.

or given to the family of a soldier killed in action

This is what life insurance is for, right?

[Moosehead]

The military spends much much more on morale boosting programs than the $200K they spent here. How much did it cost to send Roger Clemons and a bunch of musicians over to Afghanistan or other parts of the globe?

There is a lot of bang for the buck in this case. XBox is a blast, particulary if you are young and competitive.

[Bogey78O]

They spend millions on morale boosters. This is just a drop in the bucket. A step above big comfy chairs but slightly below meeting a playboy bunny.

[July 4th]

I don't have a problem with this as the members of the active military have their lives managed by the government. Free time is carefully scheduled, along with every other aspect of their day. Being human, and not some computerized fighting force, they need some kind of recreation, and its fair that the government managing their time provide a little human comfort. If this were an X-box system for a 40-hour-a-week desk jockey at the State Department, I would feel a little differently.

[LasVegasMac]

The concrete illustration is in the fact that they spent $200,000 tax dollars on video games.

No. Wrong.

The only issue here that is "concrete" is that out troops need some entertainment.

Why not use the funds for improving weapons systems

Get serious. You think 200k is going to buy some improvements? That might buy a new paint job for 20 or 30 jet fighters.

or given to the family of a soldier killed in action?

They would get that much from insurance they pay for already.

What the F### is your problem? You work for Chuckie Schumer or what?

I spent 18 months in an arm pit called Kunsan AB, Korea. Anything related to the "real world" was a luxury - AND VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!!!!!!!!

F$$$ you and your tight a$$!

Very obvious you have not one clue about the military.

When one is clueless, it't best to keep one's mouth zipped.

Else you might look an A$$.

LVM

[Lloyd227]

I likely pay more taxes than most on this website, and I don't have a problem with it.

Times change and there may be different entertainment options now, but we have always attempted to see to it that our soldiers have something to do during downtime, whether its a game of cards, a USO gig, or whatever.

In the grand scheme of things, 200k is not a lot of money.

You should try an online game of Ghost Recon yourself. You may be surprised how tactical and challenging it is.

Cheers,
Lloyd

[LasVegasMac]

You must be one of the 77%.

Yes, you really flamed my butt. And you have been here since 98 - ?

We also ship them bottled water, at tax payer expense.

Got a problem with that?

LVM

[lepton]

The concrete illustration is in the fact that they spent $200,000 tax dollars on video games.

I have to say, that I would much rather see this type of thing (which can ably serve as a prototyping for training sims development) than two of the three most expensive activities that bored soldiers tend towards: drinking and womanizing/(manizing?). $200,000 is a drop in the bucket. It is also not like most military posts have a suitable infrastructure for the soldiers to do this on their own.

[undeniable logic]

I think this may be one of the first times I disagree with you. I am about as frugal as it gets with taxpayers' funds, but I really do not have a problem with this. Most private employers have entertainment type funds to boost the morale of their employees. I don't see why the military should be any different, especially since being in the military is not a job, it is a life. Think about the soliders overseas right now, they aren't just working - they are working 24 hours a day - no family, no entertainment, just life-risking activities.

To me, it doesn't matter if the money is spent on beer, pool tables, ping pong tables, movies, tvs, or video games. I do think that our soldiers deserve more than their measly paychecks. Video game systems also get good bang for the buck. I bet the average xbox will be used 5+ hours a day. Even over a year, assuming 1k per system for tv, furniture, etc, that is less than $1 an hour. I don't know how many military personnel we have, but if we assume 500k, we are talking about less than 40 cents per person.

We really don't pay them much, so we subsidize their food, housing, etc. Why not provide shared entertainment resources - if nothing else, it is far cheaper than providing the pay that would allow them to provide this for themselves.