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Originally Posted by jayeff
I think you just demonstrated more than any poll could have done. Apart from which:
1. We claim not to want to dominate the world, so how smart is it that the US accounts for more than 40% of the total that every country in the world spends on armed forces?
2. How smart is that we spend so much money, yet while we are bogged down in two weak countries most Americans couldn't find on the map, we are probably incapable of a third such occupation.
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Unfortunately, our economy has always been tied to war. War brings jobs and money into the US economy. It's a sad state of affairs, but that is unfortunately the truth. It is what makes what Bill Clinton did even more impressive as it was the first time it was that prosperous in a peace time economy.
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3. How smart is it that we rank so poorly in areas such as education and health care, yet more than 50% of our annual discretionary spending (the amount "left over" after mandatory spending to comply with laws covering such things as social security benefits, medicare and paying the interest on the national debt) goes to the military.
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It's difficult to compare us to other countries that have a more socialist government. We are a capitalist economy which means you get what you pay for. Our top schools and medical facilities are world famous and people throughout the world come to us for health care and education. We have the best doctors and professors in the world. On the other hand, those who can't afford those things don't have that option. If you are poor you can't afford the Mayo clinic for your surgery. If you are poor you won't go to the best high school in the state.
I guess I'm just more of a libertarian in my beliefs. I worked hard for my money and in some ways don't feel like I'm responsible for other people's education and health care. It's just a socialist vs individualism approach to society in which the US is more individualistic than other countries in the world.
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Actually, since we have the most expensive per capita education system in the world and ditto health care system, their problems are obviously not lack of funds. Nevertheless, the point about disproportional spending remains valid.
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Again, this is a socialism vs individualism issue. We have schools that are very poor, have a few computers for students, and very low paid teachers. Than in the wealthier areas you find high schools where every student has a laptop, teachers make 6 figures, and the school is on the cutting edge of everything. We have free clinics and stuff for the poor that feature low wage doctors and the bare minimums for health care. On the flip side we have doctors who make millions for curing rare ailments and performing amazing medical feats.
I think we all would like everyone to be offered the best of the best. The problems is that the more socialist your economy and society becomes, the less motivation there is to become better. If a doctor can't charge the top dollar for health care because he has become the best doctor in his area, why strive to become better? If all teachers and schools are the same, what motivation does a teacher have to become better?
Sometimes are flaws are actually our positives. Having a set of haves and have-nots motivate individuals to become better.