Americans Favor Military Cuts

foundit66 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-15-2012, 07:02 PM

Quote:

An overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens want deep and immediate cuts in military spending, according to a new poll. The Center for Public Integrity, a Washington, D.C.-based investigative news service, in conjunction with two other groups asked more than 600 Americans from across the country about their perceptions regarding U.S. defense spending. The survey went on to ask whether the respondent favored increasing, holding steady or decreasing military spending.

Seventy-six percent of survey-takers, including 90 percent of Democrats and 67 percent of Republicans, say they would cut the Pentagon's budget. That places the majority of respondents at odds with Democratic President Barack Obama's policies and the proposed budgets of the majority Republican Party in Congress. Obama has essentially held defense spending steady at around $550 billion by cutting its recent rate of increase. The Republicans have proposed adding billions of dollars to the president's budget.

War costs – currently totaling around $100 billion a year – are budgeted separately from the military’s “base” budget.

The popular position, if reflected in actual spending, would jeopardize military initiatives that enjoy broad support among elected leaders in both political parties, including: the Pentagon's aerial and naval “pivot” towards the Pacific; the deployment of sea- and land-based missile defenses; and the development of new war technology including new stealth bombers and fighters, drone aircraft, submarines and aircraft carriers.

But events could bring budgetary reality in line with the poll respondents’ desires. Last year, Congress passed, and the president signed, the Budget Control Act, which requires $1.2 trillion in budget cuts over the coming decade. If Congress and the president don’t agree on what programs to cut, the reductions will occur automatically across all federal agencies. That could slice hundreds of billions of dollars from the Pentagon’s future budgets.

Americans Favor Military Cuts | Flashpoints

Quote:

The average total cut was around $103 billion, a substantial portion of the current $562 billion base defense budget, while the majority supported cutting it at least $83 billion. These amounts both exceed a threatened cut of $55 billion at the end of this year under so-called “sequestration” legislation passed in 2011, which Pentagon officials and lawmakers alike have claimed would be devastating.

“When Americans look at the amount of defense spending compared to spending on other programs, they see defense as the one that should take a substantial hit to reduce the deficit,” said Steven Kull, director of the Program for Public Consultation (PPC), and the lead developer of the survey. “Clearly the polarization that you are seeing on the floor of the Congress is not reflective of the American people.”

Public overwhelmingly supports large defense spending cuts | iWatch News by The Center for Public Integrity

Seems simple and obvious enough.
But of course, Congress often has a problem representing the will of the people.

Comet · #2 (**permalink**) 05-15-2012, 07:58 PM

For a poll thread, there seems to be a severe lack of...poll.

Dave1 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-15-2012, 10:00 PM

Well, put me down for getting out of Afghanistan as soon as possible and taking nation building off the stove so we can spend our money on re-building the United States of America.......

AZRWinger · #4 (**permalink**) 05-15-2012, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foundit66

Americans Favor Military Cuts | Flashpoints

Public overwhelmingly supports large defense spending cuts | iWatch News by The Center for Public Integrity

Seems simple and obvious enough.
But of course, Congress often has a problem representing the will of the people.

You did realize we live in a republic where a poll of 600 doesn't "represent" the will of the people?

BTW My antivirus software rejected the site where I assume the poll is located.

faithful_servant · #5 (**permalink**) 05-15-2012, 11:20 PM

I could put together a list of military cuts that would save us billions without even blinking. Start with consolidating our military into one cohesive unit, instead of four different branches with massive redundancies.

cnredd · #6 (**permalink**) 05-15-2012, 11:21 PM

What's the percentage for cutting the Department of Education?...

What's the percentage for cutting the EPA?...

What's the percentage for cutting the FCC?...

What's the percentage for cutting the TSA?...

What's the percentage for cutting the Department of Energy?...

What's the percentage for cutting the NLRB?...

Not asked?...How Conveeeeenient...

Oftencold · #7 (**permalink**) 05-16-2012, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foundit66

Americans Favor Military Cuts | Flashpoints

Public overwhelmingly supports large defense spending cuts | iWatch News by The Center for Public Integrity

Seems simple and obvious enough.
But of course, Congress often has a problem representing the will of the people.

Then the people need to decide who we're going to allow to die, or live in essential slavery. It shouldn't be a hard choice, should it?

dabateman · #8 (**permalink**) 05-16-2012, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithful_servant

I could put together a list of military cuts that would save us billions without even blinking. Start with consolidating our military into one cohesive unit, instead of four different branches with massive redundancies.

Thank you FS. The only voice of reason on this issue thus far...

Oftencold · #9 (**permalink**) 05-16-2012, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faithful_servant

I could put together a list of military cuts that would save us billions without even blinking. Start with consolidating our military into one cohesive unit, instead of four different branches with massive redundancies.

I'm having a hard time seeing tank drivers being supervised by the same people who command light attack boat seamen, or paratroopers, or submariners, load masters, bosuns, or Marines.

While some overhead could certainly be eliminated, the Services are divided largely because their fundamental missions, philosophies, operating environments, primary considerations and spheres of concern are perforce deeply divided.

I'll give some examples. In the Air Force, we often had impromptu meetings of all ranks engaged in a task at hand, and came to a consensus about how to proceed. We could do that. The ground we stood on want likely to go anywhere while we had our discussion. But in the Navy, as it has been explained to me, a ship can be lost almost instantly. So there is far lass discussion and a tradition of instant obedience to authority.

Once, we were in an exercise with both the Army and Navy. To erect out hospital tent quickly, all of the Air Force folks grabbed ropes and pulled when necessary. The Soldiers present were literally appalled that our officers were helping with such tasks, especially when one of our nurses climbed to the tent peak to attach something. Their philosophy was deeply concerned with protecting their officers.

They also didn't like that we staked our tents so that in a high wind they'd tear, rather than collapse and smother the patients. In their sphere, materiel was seen as harder to replace than wounded soldiers.

mlurp · #10 (**permalink**) 05-16-2012, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZRWinger

You did realize we live in a republic where a poll of 600 doesn't "represent" the will of the people?

I want us out of Afghanistan, yet while several other nations are increasing their military forces/equipment I don't want to see our military gutted by some possible 600 Liberals.

And when your talking about things that affect our nation I would prefer these pollsters do polls that would include at least a third of the population from all specters of society.

BTW My antivirus software rejected the site where I assume the poll is located.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnredd

What's the percentage for cutting the Department of Education?...

What's the percentage for cutting the EPA?...

What's the percentage for cutting the FCC?...

What's the percentage for cutting the TSA?...

What's the percentage for cutting the Department of Energy?...

What's the percentage for cutting the NLRB?...

Not asked?...How Conveeeeenient...

I know a few who would want the EPA/Department of Energy tossed out of the govt.
And feel it is time to hear from all of our population on govt spending and why. Our govt., has grown and still is growing. When will it end?

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