Do you agree with this massive increase in Military Budget, at this time?

[Crepitus]

I agree with the 10% cut in non-military spending!

military spending freeze and a thorough vetting of all contracts and contractors by someone who can do real math, not just the republican kind.

 

[Crepitus]

Most of what the US spends on is salary. The US military pays far in excess of what other militaries pay their members.

Nope, less than 1/4 of that is salaries.

 

[Crepitus]

Magats could never accept that.

They truly believe that everything is wrong in their lives is the fault of brown and black people, migrants and for many, women.

They are very sad people who take no responsibility for themselves.

Don't forget those evil liberals!

 

[T. A. Gardner]

military spending freeze and a thorough vetting of all contracts and contractors by someone who can do real math, not just the republican kind.

The military isn't particularly bad or good at contracting by comparison with the rest of government in general. The problem is that what you or I would think of as serious money, most larger defense contractors see as almost a rounding error.

For example, let's say GE or Boeing were given a proposal by the government to make something and the amount looks relatively small, a few hundred thousand to a million in costs. Either's contracting department would simply send back a bid of something like, cost + $1 million. That is, whatever it costs to make it plus $1 million in profit on top of that. That took somebody at either company all of five minutes to generate.

From the government perspective, a contract for what might be $2 million total cost is the equivalent of pocket change. The government could very likely get a better deal with smaller businesses that are capable of doing the work and who would be far more careful in making the bid, but those companies are difficult to deal with going both directions because the government's contracting rules are one-size-fits-all.

That's true across the board for the federal government.

 

[Grim Reaper]

I do not support cutting essential programs like education and healthcare to fund wars. These programs are investments in people and the future of our society, cutting them harms children, families, and the most vulnerable. While national security is important, neglecting schools and hospitals creates long-term social and economic costs that outweigh short-term military gains. Responsible budgeting means we can protect our country without sacrificing the well-being and opportunities of our citizens. Prioritizing care, education, and health over unnecessary conflict reflects the kind of society we should strive to build.

 

[Crepitus]

The military isn't particularly bad or good at contracting by comparison with the rest of government in general. The problem is that what you or I would think of as serious money, most larger defense contractors see as almost a rounding error.

For example, let's say GE or Boeing were given a proposal by the government to make something and the amount looks relatively small, a few hundred thousand to a million in costs. Either's contracting department would simply send back a bid of something like, cost + $1 million. That is, whatever it costs to make it plus $1 million in profit on top of that. That took somebody at either company all of five minutes to generate.

From the government perspective, a contract for what might be $2 million total cost is the equivalent of pocket change. The government could very likely get a better deal with smaller businesses that are capable of doing the work and who would be far more careful in making the bid, but those companies are difficult to deal with going both directions because the government's contracting rules are one-size-fits-all.

That's true across the board for the federal government.

And?