The World’s Top 10 Military Spenders
1. United States (FY08 budget), $623 billion
2. China (2004), $65 billion
3. Russia, $50 billion
4. France (2005), $45 billion
5. United Kingdom, $42.8 billion
6. Japan (2007), $41.75 billion
7. Germany (2003), $35.1 billion
8. Italy (2003), $28.2 billion
9. South Korea (2003), $21.1 billion
10. India (2005 est.), $19 billion
Image source: Wikimedia Commons
Data source: TomDispatch.com
Something I forgot to include in my previous comment was that not only do Americans not get politics, but life in general. Have you ever see the stereotypical suburban mom who wolfs down bag after bag of fat free chips, or the guy who drives a hybrid SUV? It makes anyone with any sense at all want to scream, “You are missing the whole point!” I mean, really, I’m stunned. This is the core problem of America and I haven’t the slightest clue how it should be fixed. How do you force someone not to be and idiot?
In response to those who say Canada, England and Australia are just as free as us Americans……
An armed man is a Citizen. An unarmed man is a Subject.
Which one are you?
I love how ‘liberals’ have always been invited to leave when criticizing failures of any given administration to live up to our Constitution. From what I’ve seen during the primaries and today’s caucus in Washington, John Q American Public is sick and tired of the war criminals who are currently running (and ruining) the White House.
Dwight Eisenhower warned against the ‘Industrial Military Complex.’ We have given our lives and souls over to supporting this monster. I highly recommend everyone reading this post rent and watch ‘Why We Fight.’
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0436971/
Those who think we are the freest nation are idiots. There are countries that are equally or more free than us. You are just spoon fed bull shit like that from our government and you believe it. Liberties are going away, and fascism has come dressed in an American flag and carrying a cross.
Is anyone going to back up anything they’re saying with facts, rather than just throwing out petty insults? Never mind the fact that we hardly ever have to worry about being invaded. We’re the richest country in the world, with the most opportunity…if people would only put the effort in. We may not have the strongest leaders at times, but we always need and should support our military efforts. Compared to those other countries with low budgets for military, who have to worry about attacks, poor health care systems, etc. I’m glad that we have the military that we do. We DO have a lot of freedoms here. I love it when people get on their soapbox and bitch about the government, and how George Bush is an idiot, etc. I’m not saying I’m a fan either, but realize you’re fortunate you can even make those statements…..
to think what we could of put that money to
is a very depressing prospect when we see the state our great nation is in right now. I like to think that it will change but it has been like this for a disturbingly long time, and to mention it on a campaign trail would bring certain death by the media (Fox’nRush).
Also (unrelated) why is impeaching so god damn difficult that it is universally accepted that if you have a president, we our stuck with him(her maybe) for four years. (of course i would wait to impeach Bush as well. Cheney for president? Rather receive electro-testicle torture.
Relative expenditures as % of GDP. ( gross domestic product )
People’s Republic of China 4.2%
United States 3.7%
United Kingdom 2.7%
Japan 1.0%
Russia 12%
@Jack
Your President has implemented far more draconian laws recently than any other nation. Every move you make and every breath you take is monitored. Habeas Corpus is no more the Patriot Act dismantled the constitution.
Freedom is being eroded in the US. You’re closer to being a fascist regime than ever before. And you’re just sitting there because it came draped in Stars and Stripes!
@Dave
Tell that to students at Columbine and Virginia Tech. An armed man is a danger to the community. Canada has just as many guns as the US except they handle them like adults!
Dave:
Perhapse you should reinterpret your own sentance here? Unarmed? A startling amount of US “citizens” have disarmed themselves mentally. When you unknowingly give away your civil liberities, and blindly follow a government with an agenda in favor of personal monetary gain, you become more a subject than a man without a fucking gun.