Strong Military

[Franconicus]

Some of our American friends stated that they believe in a strong military. Ceasar010 explained it to me:

You dont become a super power with teachers and police. With out our military we wouldn't be top dog in the superpower league any more. And most american want to stay powerful. (caesar010)

This idea is completely new to me, but I guess Caesar is right. It explained why the US military budget kept that high after the end of cold war. I do not know any other nation that defines its position by the strength of its military (well, maybe North Korea).

The US leadership is not only connected to their military. They also lead because they are number one in economy (Wallstreet), culture (Hollywood) and politics (oldest democracy alive).

Since I read ceasar’s post I am wondering: what would happen if the US decreases their military budget to let’s say one third. Would they be the leading superpower no more? Would it weaken or strengthen the US?

[Al Khalifah]

They also lead because they are number one in economy (Wallstreet), culture (Hollywood) and politics (oldest democracy alive).

I do not believe this statement is entirely true. In terms of economy, the US is the top dog in the world (unless you count the European Union).

But why is America is number one in culture? Because it can afford to spend the most on movies, which though visually spectacular, are shallow and for the most part badly acted. What about other forms of culture such as cuisine, theatre, arts, architecture, literature...? Bollywood produces far more films than Hollywood does.

Iceland is an older democracy than America and possibly the world's most pure democracy.

[Franconicus]

I do not believe this statement is entirely true. In terms of economy, the US is the top dog in the world (unless you count the European Union).

But why is America is number one in culture? Because it can afford to spend the most on movies, which though visually spectacular, are shallow and for the most part badly acted. What about other forms of culture such as cuisine, theatre, arts, architecture, literature...? Bollywood produces far more films than Hollywood does.

Iceland is an older democracy than America and possibly the world's most pure democracy.

America's culture has the biggest influence on the world. It is Hollywood, it is Pop-Music industry, it is McDonalds and Coke. Like it or not, that's the way it is.

My respect to Iceland. However, the political system of Iceland did not effect the world as much as the American. At least this is what I know. But I do not know the Island constitution

[Al Khalifah]

Infact, I may be wrong about the democracy. America did indeed have one of the oldest participatory democracies.
The Iroquios Cofderacy of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senecas and Tuscarogas are an earlier participatory democracy. The United States representative democracy apparently drew much inspiration from this confederacy of nations.

[bmolsson]

A strong military isn't enough to battle the future threats to the modern open society. International crime and terrorism has clearly shown this.

[English assassin]

IMHO the current American leadership understands all about hard power, and next to nothing about soft power. And in time, unless they intend to turn the whole world into a prison camp, (and I sometimes wonder) that will be their undoing. The more military force they use, the less the rest of the world is willing to do as they would like out of affection for America.

Any objective person would agree there is still a lot to respect in American values, (most of which are nothing to do with her rulers of course) but if they go down the route they are on in 20 years time IMHO they will be truly hated by the rest of the world. A bit less strong military and a bit more smart diplomacy would serve them beter IMHO.

[Franconicus]

Maybe my questions were not clear enough:

what would happen if the US decreases their military budget to let’s say one third. Would they be the leading superpower no more? Would it weaken or strengthen the US?

Obviously it the US would loose the ability to beat every other nation whenever they want. They would be forced to co-operate. And it would cost jobs at once. On the onther side they could save millions and decrease taxes. That should increase their economy and create new jobs.
The US would be forced to work together with their allies (NATO) and the UN. They would try to reform the UN. They would be leading again instead of walking alone.

The US is like a man who carries a big gun to be respected and complains that nobody loves him.

[Steppe Merc]

Any decrease of military would strengthen that country. More money could be used to help citizens and the rest of the world, instead of just killing people.

[scooter_the_shooter]

steppe merc

Its easy for us to say that we should cut funding... but we aren't there. Our lives aren't the ones depending on that equipment. I want americas soldiers to have the best equipment in the world.

[Steppe Merc]

Fine. Give them that. But we should stop spending money on making new nukes, stop spending money on the newest and fastest plane when we have perfectly good ones still working, stop spending money on missiles, stop spending money on totally unneeded things. If we slash our budget, we can still have very well equipped troops, without unneeded and wasteful things.

[scooter_the_shooter]

steppe

We need EVERY advantage we are at war. You are an american your self and you want cut the budget in the middle of a war . I think we need to take some of the welfare money and give it to military.

Its time to make our military even stronger. The war on terror needs to be won quickly.

[Steppe Merc]

Missiles, nukes and fancy planes can't win the war on terror.