Originally Posted By EighthDwarf <<However, I remain wholly unconvinced that the Pentagon budget is a small portion of what we're talking about. And you could make a better case (IMO) for social programs than the military. >> The Pentagon is not a small portion of the current budget - and ths the current budget deficits. However, most economists agree that future deficits will be driven by entitlement spending, not military spending.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << However, most economists agree that future deficits will be driven by entitlement spending, not military spending. >> In other words, current deficits are caused by things like military spending. Entitlements, while the driver of future deficits, are currently paid for with the payroll taxes dedicated to those entitlements.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 << Hmmm, so who exactly are the profiteers in healthcare? And how would a single payer system eliminate them? >> The whole health insurance industry is a wasteful middleman that increases costs and denies care." Bingo.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>The Pentagon is not a small portion of the current budget - and ths the current budget deficits. However, most economists agree that future deficits will be driven by entitlement spending, not military spending.<< Agreed. Which is why we need to address our military spending now to come up with solutions for the future. If we get military spending way down, it may be easier to sell solutions without causing a panic about spending.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 ED absolutely has a point about entitlements and demographics, though. It's a serious long term problem. I think ultimately we'll do what we usually do and kick the can down the road until we have no choice but to address what will then be an imminent crisis. And I think ultimately we'll have to cut out the middlemen insurance companies like the rest of the developed world and go single payer. I just wish we'd figured that out THIS year.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***<<Your lengthy cut-paste is an interesting read, but doesn't address military spending at all>> Read it more closely and try to find this line: "defense spending will drift down over time as a percentage of GDP"*** I don't have to read more closely, I read that baseless conjecture the first time. However, just to further satisfy your comment, I'll change it to "doesn't address military spending in any significant manner".
Originally Posted By Mr X ***My point is that military spending is going to be much smaller than entitlement spending this century. If you have information to counter this belief, please share.*** I already provided a current assessment. Projections are just that, projections...they can change over time and you can assume pretty much anything you want to but that doesn't mean things will happen that way. Beyond that, if you know of any crystal ball manufacturers I'd be happy to buy one and take a look and let you know if all your suppositions and assumptions will come true or not. Me...I'm putting my money on the military not going away anytime soon, and from time to time ballooning in size just as it is now.
