The Arms Industry - what do cappies think about it?

[antieverything]

I was just thinking that since about half of our military spending goes to waste, why not just nationalize the arms industries? We could cut the military budget in half, still have an unbeatable beast of a military, and put money back into the pocket of the average man on the street.

[Guest]

Quote: from antieverything on 10:22 pm on Oct. 2, 2002
I was just thinking that since about half of our military spending goes to waste, why not just nationalize the arms industries? We could cut the military budget in half, still have an unbeatable beast of a military, and put money back into the pocket of the average man on the street.

nationalization of anything leads to inefficiencies and lack of innovation due to no competition

the private defense industry is what made the US military the worlds best

[canikickit]

Probably something to do with the gross expenditure also.

[Valkyrie]

"nationalization of anything leads to inefficiencies and lack of innovation due to no competition"

When Clinton took the presidency from Bush Sr. and was setting up his administration, he found a fully functioning Federal agency that was making obselete weapons manuals for obsolete WWII weapons. Those are the kinds of wastes that the U.S. people are financing with their tax money.

[peaccenicked]

Arms are for cuddling.

[Stormin Norman]

I believe somebody already tried to nationalize the arms industry. In fact wasn't that one of the main reasons for the fall of the Soviet Union. Holy smokes can somebody really be this dumb? While we're at it, why don't we just nationalize everything, and see how long it takes for us to starve to death.

P.S. The type of arms we are discussing here are for killing your enemies. God damned, peacenicked. We all know why you support further degradation of the armed forces. It is in hopes that one day our nation will fall prey to the wishes of each and every subversive group out there. Our government officials took an oath to uphold the constitution and provide for a common defense against enemies domestic and foreign. I think its about time you joined those of us living in reality.

[reagan lives]

"I was just thinking that since about half of our military spending goes to waste, why not just nationalize the arms industries? We could cut the military budget in half, still have an unbeatable beast of a military, and put money back into the pocket of the average man on the street."

First of all, government services and duties (i.e. arms production) are FAAAAR cheaper when they're outsourced to the private sector. Paris provided a good example of why this is true. Second of all, the money right now goes back into the pocket of the average man. Nearly all our defense spending is domestic. We design and manufacture arms by contracting to American firms. That means the money gets circulated back into the economy. Money comes out of the economy via taxes, money gets put back into the economy via a defense contract, and caloo calay, a harrier jet gets built. And of course, the private defense contractors have incentive to manufacture their products as efficiently as possible, so the minimum amounts of material and time get wasted. Government agencies operate under no such constraints. Trust me, far more of the defense budget ends up back in the pockets of the people this way.

[Goldfinger]

Can you cappies please tell me: What is an enemy? Someone who opposes the nation you live in? Does that mean USA is only bad seen from the victims' eyes, and if you live in USA you should support it?

If so, you sort of defend Saddam, for hating Bush.

Please forgive me for not making any sense at all, I'm tired and want to sleep.