I see many issues dividing us and those in charge increasingly beholden to people who get them elected. Those people are not the millions who go out and vote but those who spend their millions to influence elections. It does not seem unreasonable to look on the money they spend as an investment. When they spend money on something they expect something in return. They buy houses and cars to impress others with their wealth and power. They buy businesses, not to employ workers but to produce a product or service so they can make more money. They fund candidates for election not because they believe in democracy, it is to buy influence. It is so they can move public policy in a way that benefits them. Increased government business contracts, a change in tax law, or perhaps the easing of a regulation on air or water pollution. So to me a few hundred or a few thousand folks at the economic pinnacle have an influence that the hundreds of millions of us below them can never hope to achieve. It is a growing cancer on our nation. It is not something the President will address tonight. He will talk about changes in tax law and closing loopholes that allow the richest among us to pay less in taxes by percentage than the common laborer. It will just be talk. Congress is beholden to the money folks and if you take a look at Congress now it is increasingly occupied by those folks. How many millions or billions does it take to satisfy their greed? It is a question that cannot be answered.
The question I wonder about is rather simple. What are our priorities? As I have written in the past we spend a staggering amount of money on national defense compared to the rest of the world. The United States Navy wants to update its fleet. The LHA 6 America-Class Amphibious Assault Ship. The ship is designed to transport Marine Expeditionary Units and their equipment. It can carry up to 1,871 troops in addition to its crew of 1,204. Cost per ship $3,400,000,000. Next up the DDG 1000 Zumwalt-Class Destroyer. It is the largest destroyer ever built for the U.S. Navy. It is designed to provide near shore support for land troops and dominate the waters. Cost per unit, $7,300,000,000. Gerald R. Ford-Class Nuclear Aircraft Carrier. This is the Navy's premier fighting vessel. A crew of 4,539 and carries over 75 aircraft. Cost per ship $12,000,000,000. The President tonight will again address the issue of student loans and the cost of a college education. Free community college tuition for two years for all students who qualify to attend is estimated to cost about 6 billion dollars per year. Many will argue the cost is too high. I look at the numbers above and wonder. Would the trade be reasonable? Two years of college tuition may mean one less aircraft carrier. About four less America Class Amphibious Assault Ships. Would those cuts put our national security at risk? Would a more educated workforce be a greater long term benefit than those warships?
Great post, but of course, we know where those dollars will go. We need more ships, and the Air Force will scream more planes, and the Army will cry for more missiles, and on and on. The War Machine we have created is always hungry and needs more dollars and flesh. It is the price we pay for Superpower status. Funny, though, even with all those killing technical marvels, guns and weaponry, we have still been beaten to a draw by Afghani goat herders and a 5000 year old culture.
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