And the warmongers waste no time

[Anymouse]

With that much military expenditure: it's a crime to not lay waste to those around you in a mad bid for a larger production-base and population-capacity.

That is inexcusable... by gods does this country suffer from either its semblance of 'democracy' or its overbearing military budget.

And given the predisposition of its government... it is anything but suited to military strength.

While I don't know the exact figures, I do know that a huge portion of the military budget is for pay and benefits. I suspect that China (which has a much larger number of personnel) doesn't spend nearly as much on pay.

Note that it is difficult to have an all-volunteer armed force when you only pay $7 a month.

A great deal of the military's expenditures could be eliminated by reinstituting the draft and eliminating a pay scale that comes within thirty percent or so of civilian pay for the same types of work.

My mother noted to me when she was in the Navy, the pay for a Petty Officer Third Class (her rank) was $96.90 a month (before taxes, in 1960). In 1979, when I achieved the same rank (in the same rating as her, aviation electronics), and the service had been all volunteer for only a few years, my pay was about $490 a month (before taxes).

When I left the service as a Petty Officer First Class, my pay and allowances were close to $2,000 a month in 1996, where a union aviation electronics mechanic working for an airline made close to $50,000.

Even so, with the dramatic rise in pay since 1960, we could certainly shave a bunch off the DOD budget. Just have to reinstitute a draft to do it.

Miss Aerzia, you need exactly six hundred more up ratings to your reputation.