Obama Vows to Veto House GOP's bill to extend payroll tax cut (Page 2)

Sarcastic Dots: Yeah, you're right. It's not like my brothers girl friend of five years was born and raised in Massachusetts or anything. I KNOW NOTHING OF AMERICA ='[

And snide remarks? I made nothing of the sort, I discussed how taxation was fine using a comparison with other countries and then you told me to shut up because you didn't like what I had to say. Then, typically of Americans on here, they bring up WWII for some reason. That's when all the snide remarks started.

OCD_OCD: Your brother's girlfriend....

And these are her thoughts that you are regurgitating and not your own?

Sarcastic Dots: Of course not. She has different points of view than me on everything. I never said I was regurgitating her words, but I certainly know more about america and americans then you're implying. I don't gain my knowledge on the american political and economic system by watching youtube videos... This may shock you, but they teach american history at high school level in Britain. OMG, right?

I was completely aware of Nixon's relationship with China by the time I was 15. How many american's can say the same about specific points in British history?

OCD_OCD: Again, are you always so abrasive?

Sarcastic Dots: I can be perfectly reasonable. Ask David, who is far more conservative than I'd ever be.

OCD_OCD: Should I reciprocate by wondering about Neville Chamberlain's relationship with Hitler? No government is perfect.

Sarcastic Dots: Nah, not at all. I'll be the first to admit my countries failings, past and present... Including the royal families rather suspicious relationship with the nazi's. Don't take my rants the wrong way, I don't see the United States as evil or "worse" than other countries. Every country has a dark history. Every single one.

Edit: And now we are back to the insults about how I know nothing because I'm British. Great... I thought we were getting somewhere.

Sarcastic Dots: See, southern. This is the difference between me and you. I can handle when other people talk about my country, and you can't. It's a shame.

Sarcastic Dots: And Britain willingly joins its allies in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our military relationship isn't as divisive as you are making out. America and Britain are probably the closest allies in recent history, and it will probably be that way for some time. Our military agencies basically live in each others pockets at this point.

That's why american military spending is an issue. If America increases its spending, then we have to try to match it in case America goes to war again and, realistically, what's the point?

When we pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan there is no justifiable reason for your country, my country or any other developed one to pour money into its military. There are no nations that are hostile to NATO that could even dent our current military infrastructure... Iran, North Korea and all of these rogue nations don't pose the threat of total war.

People often get concerned about the rise of China, but that's of no concern. China is as reliant on America, as America is reliant on China. Besides, China has, like, one aircraft carrier... An ex soviet carrier from the 1950's...

That's why military funding puzzles me. What's the threat? Really? Maybe in a few years time some unknown european nation may go crazy again, but it's probably not going to happen... So why do we continue to spend money on things we don't need?

Sarcastic Dots: That's true, but trust me. Even if America cut it's budget it would still have a far, far larger military than its closest rival.

Handy graph from google where you can compare.

http://www.google.co.uk/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&met_y=ms_mil_xpnd_gd_zs&tdim=true&dl=en&hl=en&q=world+military+spending

You'll notice a huge decrease in spending when the soviet union collapsed, as it should have been, then a huge increase when the middle eastern conflict started. Now, as far as I'm aware, the coalition plan on moving out the majority of troops soon, so after that the budget should decrease again... Logically, right?

OCD_OCD: Do you know how Reagan broke the USSR? It was because we increased our weapons and thet delt they had to keep up. It ultimately bankrupted them.

OCD_OCD: Sorry. I can't edit typos on my iPad. LOL

Sarcastic Dots: I don't have a problem with that. I already said that military spending was totally expectable during the cold war and during wartime.

Peacetime is a whole other matter.

davidk14: .

We are living in peacetime?

.

OCD_OCD: Not with Iran and North Korea nearing nuclear capabilities. This is not a time of peace.

Sarcastic Dots: Nope.

" Now, as far as I'm aware, the coalition plan on moving out the majority of troops soon, so after that the budget should decrease again... Logically, right?"

I know Obama keeps flip-flopping on this issue though, so we could all still be there in a decade or two. But let's imagine that we do pull out, and it all goes according to plan, then the military budgets could be re-evaluated.

Edit: Well yeah. The thing about Iran is, we can ramp up military spending if we did go to war with them. It doesn't need to be consistently high. If war with Iran did happen, I don't think many people would complain if the military budget was increased again.

davidk14: *sarcasm*

OCD_OCD: We can never let down our guard in the Middle East. It would be suicidal.

OCD_OCD: It's not like baking bread. The men and materials must be ready at any time it is required. We can't go from mothballs to full action in a matter of days or even months. It's the price we have to pay for our preparedness and future safety.