Saturday, September 3, 2011

Is the U.S. Spending Its Tax Dollars On The Wrong Programs?


July 29, 2011 Clip: New Rule – It Gets Better

As promised, we return to this video to discuss other points Maher brought up (starting especially around 3:20 into the video). Are we spending too much of our tax dollars in the wrong places? It does appear that way too much of our budget goes to our wildly-bloated military. Of course, I want the U.S. to be safe, but the amount of money spent on our defense dwarfs that of any other nation. It's overkill.

Additionally, it is clear that the "War on drugs" cannot ever be won decisively. It is a massive waste of money, the main cause of gang violence on our streets, and a terrible distraction from other crimes worth fighting and investigating.  Why commit such a considerable segment of our law enforcement resources to a lost cause, when  these individuals can be better stationed guarding the streets against murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and terrorists, for example? (More on that in a separate post)

Shouldn't more funding go towards bettering education, healthcare, and creating jobs with green energy industries? I feel that, regardless of what Conservatives say, they will tax the hell out of us. They always want smaller Government until they are in charge, so don't believe the hype. So, if we're going to be taxed to hell regardless, shouldn't we put that money towards programs that will improve our standard of living, rather than buying the military new, multimillion dollar toys, and fighting wars that cannot be won?

What do you guys think?  Leave your thoughts,  and I'd especially like to hear from Europeans and others from outside the United States that have experience with more Socialist-leaning governments than ours. I understand that no system is perfect, and Europe has its problems as well. I'd like to hear the pros and cons from your point of view.

I am affectionately and respectfully your humble servant,
 Publius

33 comments:

  1. Very informative! I agree with every aspect of this.

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  2. US should stop the handouts to other nations and start using that money here.

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  3. Very nice info, thanks for posting!

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  4. Yeah it is. More domestic aid instead of foreign aid.

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  5. I cannot stand looking at that man. Ugh.

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  6. Cutting education funding is going to bite this nation in the long run. We're going to be living in a country full of illiterate dumbasses.

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  7. I tend to agree with mister Maher, and this issue is no exception.

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  8. great post mate, great insight aswell

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  9. I'm surprised to see that HBO allow me to view this from the U.K. Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Personally, I live in a country where drug use is not penalized (possession with intent to sell is, though), and all the stats show steady and very significant decrease of all drug-related incidents, costs in health services and violent crime. Thus, I am a firm believer that the war on drugs can only be won by allowing it's usage to begin with. People will do drugs either way, it's a matter of making it a crime-associated, underground activity that relates drug use with violent crime.

    About fund spending, I believe that most governments went unprepared into the 21st century. Notice how certain social patterns change constantly? Government spending and investing has not, many are still investing in defense and public works when such a thing is not necessary. Realize that the government should be by people, for people, and not by the elite for the elite.

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  11. good look on it man keep up the good work

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  12. Nice commentary. I agree with you.

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  13. I'm glad most of you guys agree with his views, as so do I.

    @CrazyNeo, I'm especially thankful for your feedback as you brought up some really interesting points/information. You're exactly right.. People who choose to use drugs will use it either way. I can go use heroine if I want to, but I don't want to, even though it's highly illegal in the U.S. Nothing's really stopping me but my choice to not do it. And the only reason why there is gang violence is because it's a clandestine business. If it was government regulated and to be sold in stores, there'd be little market for it on the streets, and hence, much less violence and "turf warfare".

    And I think you're exactly right about Government being unprepared, and really, not adapting to the changes of society. Too much bureaucratic glad-handing and corporate donations coming in to set policy. The needs of the middle class seem ignored, which is why we need to see some more regulation in that sector, and in capitalism in general. The government isn't doing it's job if it isn't working for the greater good of the majority of it's citizens.

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  14. "Shouldn't more funding go towards bettering education, healthcare, and creating jobs with green energy industries"

    of course, the money the goverment has, comes from the hard working people, who work their ass off to pay the bills. so the goverment should use that money wisely, giving it back (in some sort of way) to the citizens, building schools, new jobs, making industries grow...is a shame when they spend it building faster soldiers to beat poor sand people

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  15. Informative! Lots of stuff to think about.

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  16. And I thought learning had to be boring!

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  17. No idea who this guy is (Brit here) but he seems to know his stuff!

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  18. Very informative :) great post and i totally agree with you on it

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  19. Legalizing Marijuana would actually cause less of a problem. Nearly 50% of both state and federal inmates are doing time due to Marijuana possession. Additionally the "War On Drugs" Has clearly been lost.

    I agree with you!

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  20. Thanks guys, glad we're pretty much in agreement. @Spensieri, this is precisely my point. Hopefully, the rest of the U.S. will wisen up and realize this.

    @Agustin, I totally agree. And the "sand people" reference (Star Wars?) made me lol. Good stuff.

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  21. I cant stand Bill Maher.

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  22. Your totally right, in the middle east we fired 24 TOMAHAWK missles at some middle eastern country. EACH missle COST THE USA: 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS PER MISSLE....thats 24 MILLION DOLLARS ON 24 MISSLES we seriously need to quit the war game, and start spending the money where its SERIOUSLY NEEDED

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