The definitive answer to wordslinger's question "So why do we need a monstrous army and navy? "

The answer is found in this paragraph on this webpage.

"The economic viability of the region depends on the military. While other economic sectors may experience temporary downturns, the region’s military installations continue to be the prime generators of the economy ..."

http://www.florida-edc.org/aerospace-defense/defense-support.aspx

We need new and modern equipment for our military.  I think some people would like to see us go the way of New Zealand and just pretty much do away with our military.  

The problem is that there are billions of taxpayer dollars poured into military equipment that we don't need or that doesn't work as it should.   So yes, it's a racket.  I'm not sure how it can be fixed because every congressperson who has government money coming into his/her district doesn't want it to go away....and how can you blame them?

Nekochan wrote:We need new and modern equipment for our military.  I think some people would like to see us go the way of New Zealand and just pretty much do away with our military.  

The problem is that there are billions of taxpayer dollars poured into military equipment that we don't need or that doesn't work as it should.   So yes, it's a racket.  I'm not sure how it can be fixed because every congressperson who has government money coming into his/her district doesn't want it to go away....and how can you blame them?

Firstly,  what's in your first paragraph.  No doubt there are some people who would want no military.
I'm not one of those.  I want a strong military for DEFENSE.  A military which is nothing but an economic stimulus is not a strong military for DEFENSE.
The money which could actually be used to enhance our defenses,  is instead being used to prop up economies and that is THE most inefficient way to buy actual defense.

Secondly,  there is no "solution" and there is not one for precisely the reason you stated.  The congress doesn't want a solution because their constituents don't want a solution.  A solution means an economic recession.
The whole point of this thread was an attempt to get us to stop denying the reality of this situation. That is the first step. What the 2nd step is I have no clue.

I agree that we need a strong defense.  I think most people would agree with that.  There is a great difference of opinion among people as to what a strong defense means.  Some people think that our military should do absolutely nothing outside of US territory.  I disagree.

1. Absolutely nothing outside of U.S. territory

or

2. invade and occupy countries for decades resulting in no benefit whatever

As with most things in life, I think the answer lies somewhere IN BETWEEN

Bob wrote:1.  Absolutely nothing outside of U.S. territory

or

2.  invade and occupy countries for decades resulting in no benefit whatever

As with most things in life,  I think the answer lies somewhere IN BETWEEN

I agree.

I am at a military reunion this week and a lot of these guys became quite wealthy working in the shipyards and on weapons systems after they got out. Looking back I was offered a job when I got out working on missile systems but I was already burned out by what I saw in Vietnam. Very lucrative and of course money blunts us to morality. The leaderships mentality isn't much different than a thieves mindset, but like a corporation it's hard to pin down who is actually being immoral because everyone is just a tiny cog in the much bigger war machine. I still believe Smedley was right. It's a racket like Neko reminds us.

It is what it is and if you don't have it when you need it, you are screwed.

PACEDOG#1 wrote:It is what it is and if you don't have it when you need it, you are screwed.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2011/12/19/how-to-waste-100-billion-weapons-that-didnt-work-out/

7 absurd ways the military wastes taxpayer dollars

http://www.salon.com/2012/12/12/7_absurd_ways_the_military_wastes_taxpayer_dollars/

Military Waste & Fraud: $172 billion/year
excerpted from the book
Take the Rich Off Welfare

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Corporate_Welfare/Military_Fraud.html

http://militarywaste.org/

15 Facts About Military Spending That Will Blow Your Mind

http://www.businessinsider.com/military-spending-budget-defense-cuts-2011-10?op=1#ixzz2h9gCyev6

Okay Bob that one stat really opens even an idiots eyes...the cost of keeping one soldier in Iraq could feed 60 American families...DAMN !

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2013/10/07/new-air-force-planes-go-directly-to-boneyard.html

A Daily News investigation last year identified the C-27J as one of several weapons systems and programs the Pentagon wanted to cut but Congress budgeted billions of dollars for anyway.

Others included the M-1 Abrams tank and the Global Hawk drone, both of which were protected by Ohio lawmakers and linked to Ohio jobs, leading critics to call the moves the new face of pork barrel spending. Lawmakers said they believed the systems are needed for national defense.

Congress specifically forbade the military from sending Global Hawk drones to the boneyard, putting language in the defense authorization budget saying the military can't spend a dime to "retire, prepare to retire, or place in storage" a Global Hawk drone.

The C-27J is manufactured by Alenia North America -- a part of the Italian firm Finmeccanica Inc. -- and prime contractor L-3 Communications.

Finmeccanica and L-3 Communications both have multi-million dollar lobbying efforts and the two companies and their PACs spent more than $1 million on campaign contributions during last year's election cycle, according to the nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics.

POGO's Rosenkranz said lawmakers are partially driven to protect these programs both by campaign and lobbying money, and by the desire to save jobs in their districts with military spending.

"Clearly, money has a role to play in this, and clearly where these systems are manufactured, where they are based and located is very important," he said.