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EnterOrion
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EnterOrion
4,220 posts
Nomad

I got this idea while surfing around the web, and I stumbled across the CIA's (Central Intelligence Agency) website, and their World Factbook.

While I saw this, I thought, how could it really be that low? Turns out in 2005, we only spent 4.06% of our entire GDP on the military. This put me to wondering, why am I hearing inflated numbers?

We are only 28th in our spending in the military, which would sound high in comparison to Earth's 180+ countries, but we're a fully developed superpower, and I would expect a little bit more, honestly.

Now I do have my own opinions about the matter, I thought I'd share that.

(I know our GDP includes companies, so you don't need to tell me that)

  • 12 Replies
EnterOrion
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EnterOrion
4,220 posts
Nomad

Well, that site is obviously lying,


I can't see why the CIA would lie, and I've actually got some other sources to back it up.

trillions of dollars on the millitary,


$680B per year.

fact the US is $110 million US dollars in dept every day


That's not actually indicative to any particular cause. We have quite a few social programs, prisons, charities, infrastructure, economic restrictions, and a few others along with the military.

My point isn't our debt. It's how low our government is payed by the people. We have a flourishing economy, with trillions being made every year, yet we're in $10T debt.

And also how much the military itself is payed.
Moabarmorgamer
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Moabarmorgamer
8,570 posts
Nomad

Well, that site is obviously lying, because the US has spent many trillions of dollars on the millitary, and just a fact the US is $110 million US dollars in dept every day

It is a possibility that the website he found is a fake or the CIA is lying, but how do you know that? And for another thing, he said that we have spent only 4% of our money on the military, and a percent is not a definite number, so you cannot dispute it saying that it is impossible. And you never said over what length of time that amount of money was spent? Were trillions of dollars spent on the military in one day, or in one century? It's things like that that make your argument full of holes.

*suspicious look* Have you been watching Fox News?
EnterOrion
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EnterOrion
4,220 posts
Nomad

Have you been watching Fox News?


No, and I never will.

Well, at least not anytime soon. My mom has stolen the TV so much watching that bull that I hate it.

And it's full of holes. Like most mass media.
Deth666
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Deth666
653 posts
Nomad

My point isn't our debt. It's how low our government is payed by the people. We have a flourishing economy, with trillions being made every year, yet we're in $10T debt.


so what do you suggest? we should raise taxes?

its simple economics we spend more then we make that's why we're in debt
Moabarmorgamer
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Moabarmorgamer
8,570 posts
Nomad

No, and I never will.
Well, at least not anytime soon. My mom has stolen the TV so much watching that bull that I hate it.
And it's full of holes. Like most mass media.

Nononono, I wasn't saying that to you, I was talking to Hassassin.
EnterOrion
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EnterOrion
4,220 posts
Nomad

so what do you suggest? we should raise taxes?


Short term hyper taxes would certainly help. The companies keep only what they need to stay afloat, and the government takes it all.

Only for 5-6 months though, so we don't slice our economies' head off.

Nononono, I wasn't saying that to you, I was talking to Hassassin.


Oh, sorry.
balerion07
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balerion07
2,837 posts
Peasant

You have to remember that the American debt is not just held by the Government, but also the people. And the number is 12 trillion. The lowest 20% of the American people have negative assests. And the people owe more money than the government does. The good news is last I knew we make 4 trillion in profit a year. That means if you take all our earnings everything can be paid off in 3 years. Also Japan's people owe more per person than ours do since they tried and failed to pay their way out of depression in the 90s.

goumas13
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goumas13
4,752 posts
Grand Duke

Military budget of the United States

thelistman
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thelistman
1,416 posts
Shepherd

The US is 1st in the world in military spending.

The GDP is 14.44 trillion dollars. 4.06% of that is still almost 600 billion dollars. The percentage this year is about 4.3% and spending is nearing 700 billion. The whole world combined spends 1.47 trillion in military, meaning the US makes up almost half of world spending on military.

http://www.armscontrolcenter.org/policy/securityspending/articles/us_vs_world.gif

balerion07
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balerion07
2,837 posts
Peasant

The site I found said 41.5% but still...

At the same time one does have to remember that our dollar is worth more than most countries. The majorly used currencies that are worth more are the Pound and Euro and both are in Europe so the rest of the world would be spending more in their own currency than in ours.

German3945
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German3945
996 posts
Nomad

There is a reason for this, and I'm surprised no one has brought these up yet.

The US has (as far as I know, as long as it hasn't changed in the past few years) the highest GDP of any nation. Calculating the percentage GDP that is contributed to from military expenditure of each country is going to be completely off.

Just looking at military expenditure as a number, it's obvious we spend more than any other country. We're too involved in foreign affairs, but that can't really change for soon.

I can't see why the CIA would lie

That made my day.
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