Defense Spending

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Seven-hundred and thirty-eight billion dollars.

That's the 2012 Department of Defense budget. It's the single largest portion of all US discretionary spending, and it's the largest DoD budget in US history. Comparatively, average annual spending on defense during the Vietnam, Korean, and Cold War was just 408 billion dollars (adjusted for inflation), almost half of what it is now.

Source: Defense.gov
Yeah, you read that right.

Why is it that we need to be spending more money on war now than we did just a few years ago, at the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars? Why is it that as a country, we'd rather spend money (and unnecessary money at that) on war than on any other of the slew of issues in need of attention in America?

It's a fact that we spend more money on our military than the next 20 top military-spending countries combined. Imagine the things we could accomplish if we cut that in half—and we would still be spending more than the next top 10 countries combined!

This money isn’t even being used to effectively protect us from our enemies. Based on data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, ranked as the number 3 world US think tank in 2009, the US spends 97 times more on our military than Iran does, 2,748 times more than Afghanistan does, and even China, perhaps our biggest competitor on the world stage, spends six times less on their military than we do.

Maybe it is that a country so much larger than our enemies needs to spend this much more than they do. However, when you compare the percentage of GDP that we spend on military compared to what they do, you still see that we're spending 40% more of our GDP on military than Iran is, and 46% more than China.

That means 46% more of a burden on citizens of America than on citizens in China; 46% more of a hindrance on our economy than on that of China's; 46% less resources available to the veterans of these wars, to health and education, and to American infrastructure.

And for what?

So that we can spend more on military than the next 20 countries combined.

Op-Eds Week 1

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Below you'll find the first installment of what will be a weekly Op-Ed response I'll be posting. For more information about the Op-Eds, please see this post. The Op-Ed below was written by me in response to an article, which I'll link to in each post. This week's link is below:

Link to CNN Article

“Is Aviation Security Mostly for Show?”	CNN
Bruce Schneier	December 29, 2009

Bruce Schneier, author of multiple works regarding security in the modern era, writes this article as not just a professional cryptographer and security specialist but also as an ordinary and concerned citizen of America and the world. He examines the post-911 banter and nonsensicality that plagues our discussions on the topic of terrorism and security, and also the effects this has on our actual security. His opinion is this: our thoughts and judgments on how to handle security—and indeed, our very perception of security—have been skewed by the supposed constant modern threats we encounter. He goes further to suggest that not only are we skewed by these threats, but also by threats that do not exist at all.

I chose this article for a number of reasons. Firstly, September 11 is quickly approaching and with it our time to reflect on that day once again. Secondly, I wanted this opportunity to discuss my own thoughts on our nation’s security, but more than that, on our nation’s response to terrorism and the conformity that some people feel they need to pursue in the name of patriotism. In this aspect I agree with the author—no longer should we blindly accept the solutions to terrorism that our leaders present to us. More often than not, they’re doing what will make the American public feel more secure. But this method has a drawback: in the process of presenting us with a solution, they’re enlarging our fear of the threat. Schneier writes in paragraph eight of the article that “No one has ever explained why verifying that someone has a photo ID provides any actual security, but it looks like security to have a uniformed guard-for-hire looking at ID cards.” Merely checking identification does nothing to improve security. However, it does assume some very xenophobic ideas: that those from other countries (without American identification) are unsafe to the point that they might be terrorists. Checking identification publicly also serves as a continuous reminder that we’re in a state of suspicion and that everyone in the area, at any moment, may run into a terrorist threatening their security.

Instead of these phony security measures with their outrageous drawbacks and borderline-constitutional violations, we should work to improve that which legitimately threatens our safety. Consider this: when have you heard of a terrorist causing a nuclear disaster? Now consider the amount of nuclear disasters resulting from our own shortcomings in the industry. Just as recently as last year we encountered the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, an abundance of food recalls related to salmonella, E. coli, and others, as well as just last month nuclear troubles at a plant in Virginia (resulting from the east-coast earthquake) further prove that we can busy ourselves with plenty of legitimate threats before we go insane over the possibilities of nationwide disasters from threats that we cannot conceivably protect against.

End of Hiatus

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Hello once again readers of the OCPJ blog! As you may have noticed (hopefully), I've not been as active as of late with the blog postage. Busybusybusybusybusy. But! I've found a clever way to bring back some life to the blog.

Each week in my College English 12 class, we've been writing up Op-Ed responses. These were one to two page essays we wrote in response to an opinion article we found on a reputable news site, such as the NY Times or CNN. Paragraph one included a summary of the article, and paragraph two was our own personal opinion on the story covered.

So, I've decided to begin sharing some of my own Op-Ed responses from the past few weeks. Hit the next post for the first in the series!

To Angry American Tea Partiers:

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After the eight years of the Bush/Cheney disaster, NOW you choose to get mad?

• You didn't get mad when Supreme Court stopped a legal recount and appointed a President.
• You didn't get mad when Cheney allowed energy company officials to dictate energy policy, and to push us to invade Iraq.
• You didn't get mad when a covert CIA operative got outed.
• You didn't get mad when the Patriot Act got passed.
• You didn't get mad when we illegally invaded a country that posed no threat to us.
• You didn't get mad when we spent over 1 trillion dollars (and counting) on said illegal war.
• You didn't get mad when Bush borrowed more money from foreign sources than the previous 42 Presidents combined.
• You didn't get mad when over 10 billion dollars in cash just disappeared in Iraq.
• You didn't get mad when you found out we were torturing people.
• You didn't get mad when Bush embraced trade and outsourcing policies that shipped 6 million American jobs out of the country.
• You didn't get mad when the government was illegally wiretapping Americans.
• You didn't get mad when we didn't catch Bin Laden.
• You didn't get mad when Bush rang up 10 trillion dollars in combined budget and current account deficits.
• You didn't get mad when you saw the horrible conditions at Walter Reed.
• You didn't get mad when we let a major US city, New Orleans, drown.
• You didn't get mad when we gave people who had more money than they could spend, the filthy rich, over a trillion dollars in tax breaks.
• You didn't get mad with the worst 8 years of job creations in several decades.
• You didn't get mad when over 200,000 US Citizens lost their lives because they had no health insurance.
• You didn't get mad when lack of oversight and regulations from the Bush Administration caused US Citizens to lose 12 trillion dollars in investments, retirement, and home values.

No, those things didn't get you angry. You finally got mad when a black man was elected President and decided that people in America deserved the right to see a doctor if they are sick. Yes, illegal wars, lies, corruption, torture, job losses by the millions, stealing your tax dollars to make the rich richer, and the worst economic disaster since 1929 are all okay with you, but helping fellow Americans who are sick...Oh, Hell No!!

 

Conservatives Running Away from Conservative Conference Because Some Gays Might Show Up

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Uh oh! Looks like some of the heads of conservative movement's "values voters" wing has caught wind that some gay people are planning on attending their annual orgiastic patriot party.
Can't risk being associated with those types…

Some of the nation's most prominent social conservatives are sending a message to their economic brethren by dropping out of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in response to the decision to include GOProud, a gay conservative group, as a participating organization.
"The base-line reason is that homosexuality is not a conservative value," said Bryan Fischer, the American Family Association's director of issue analysis. "It's the conservative PAC, not the libertarian PAC."…
Other social-issues groups opting to avoid the conference include the Heritage Foundation, the Family Research Council, the Center for Military Readiness, the American Family Association, the American Principles Project, the Liberty Counsel and the National Organization for Marriage.

I cannot even imagine the cognitive gymnastic ability needed to be an out gay-person and an avowed conservative these days. It must be like manning a gun turret in a fighter plane while fist swordfighting with all your fellow crewmen at the same time. Except with about a third of the other crewmen trying to grab your package when they think no one's looking. Just seems like a lot to deal with.

Via Indecision Forever

Country Overwhelmingly Progressive, Study Finds

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Scary, that picture, isn't it?

According to a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll released Monday, the country is overwhelmingly progressive. This "revelation", as if it should even be considered as such, comes just as the new Congress convenes. Newly elected House Republicans have promised to roll back all reforms that have been enacted since President Obama has taken office. Health Reform, Wall Street Reform, Student Loan Reform, all these things that we have worked tirelessly for, are being placed in the Republican's cross-hairs.

When asked what they thought should be done to balance the budget, Americans answered loudly, clearly, and unmistakably. 61% said that we should increase taxes on the rich. A close second? Cutting defense spending, at 20%.

Only 4% were interested in cutting Medicare, with only 3% wanting to cut Social Security. Washington will most assuredly dislike this news, they were just getting ready to cut social security. The president's Debt Commission, the entirety of the GOP, and even some members of the Democratic party are in favor of cutting social security. This all coming after them giving away $407 billion in tax cuts to the rich.

Obviously the American people are in conflict with Washington. This is fact. This isn't just another, "What the American people want" cliche. If Washington continues to deface the American people in this way, if the Democrats, Republicans and the president persist in trying to cut Social Security in the face of these numbers, then we will know that we have lost our democracy altogether. That the people in power couldn't give a damn what we want. That the take over of the American government by the corporations, the rich and the powerful is complete.

Every time you hear any politician or pundit say we have to cut Social Security or what they derisively call entitlement programs (you paid into them your whole life, that is why you are "entitled" to them), send them this poll. And ask them why they don't care at all about the will of the American people.

Compromise

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Recently, President Obama has been on a bit of a compromise-high. Regardless of his reasoning (2012 comes fast, doesn't it?), you can't deny that his new approach to reform is working, no matter how minutely. We did just get DADT repeal passed, as well as the START treaty and a plethora of other legislative endeavors.

With all this compromise talk, it's time we take a look at something: Assholes. Yes. As much as I dislike profanity in my posts, the "A" word is the only word to accurately describe some people.

One way to tell that you're in the presence of an asshole is by running through the quick "Starbucks Test". It goes like this: If you hear someone at Starbucks order a “decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino; extra dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n’-Low and one NutraSweet,” you’re in the presence of an a-hole. It’s unlikely that this petty combination is necessary—the person ordering is trying to flex his/her power because (s)he's an a-hole.

You might be wondering, "Well Shawn, how do I avoid becoming an a-hole?". Yes, it's very easy in today's day and age to just give up and become one. Here's some advice:

How To Not Become An A-Hole

Face your past. The past is a very good predictor of future behavior. For example, were you a bully in school? If your parents and siblings were assholes, you may have caught the disease. Knowing that you’re an asshole is first step towards change.

Do not make people feel oppressed, humiliated, de-energized, or belittled. If you find yourself having these effects, it’s time to change your behavior no matter what you think of yourself.

Do not mistreat people who are less powerful than you. One of the sure signs of an asshole is treating people like clerks, flight attendants, and waiters in a degrading manner.

Resist assholeholics from the start. The easiest time to avoid becoming an asshole is at the very beginning. Don’t think that you can do “what you have to” to fit in and can change later. It won’t happen.

Walk away and stay away. Don’t be afraid to leave a bad situation. It’s unlikely you’ll change the assholes into good people; it’s much more likely that you’ll descend to their level.

View acting like an asshole as a communicable disease. If you have any sense of decency, when you’re sick, you avoid contact to prevent spreading the disease. So if you act like an asshole, you’re not just impacting yourself; you’re also teaching other people that it’s okay to be an asshole.

Focus on win-win. Children (young and old) think that the world is a zero-sum game. If another kid is playing with the fire truck, you can’t. As people get older they should realize that life doesn’t have to be a win-lose proposition--unless, that is, you’re an asshole.

Focus on ways you are no better or even worse than others. Thinking that you’re smarter, faster, better looking, funnier, whatever than others turns people into assholes. Thinking that you’re no better or even worse keeps you humble.

Focus on ways you are similar to people, not different. If you concentrate on how you and others have similar goals, desires, and passions, you’re bound to be less of an asshole. How can you treat people that are similar to you with disdain?

Tell yourself, “I have enough stuff (money, toys, friends, cars, whatever).” Discontentment and envy is a major factor in becoming an asshole. If you’re happy, there’s no reason to stomp on others.

Just because you aren't an a-hole doesn't mean that other people won't be. Here's a quick list to help you deal with other a-holes:

How To Deal With A-Holes

Hope for the best, but expect the worst. One of the most frustrating aspects of dealing with assholes is that they disappoint you--making you wonder the very value of humans. Lowering your expectations can help reduce disappointment. Don’t solely lower your expectations, though, or you will slip into cynicism (and possibly turn into an asshole too.) Continue to hope for the best.

Develop indifference and emotional detachment. Being indifferent and detached may be a good thing in work environments. If it permits you to survive, then it is. In other words, don’t let the jerks get to you.

Look for small wins. Small victories can keep you going. Most assholes pride themselves in total control and absolute domination. Any victory, no matter how small, can keep you going. Rest assured that small victories can lead to winning the war.

Limit your exposure. You can do what you can to avoid meetings and interactions with assholes. This involves finding or building pockets of safety, support, and sanity. An example would be a nurse’s lounge as a refuge from an asshole doctor.

Expose them. Use Marge's Asshole Management Metric. This refers to a four-point system from 0 to 3. Marge, the boss, would point to people who were behaving like assholes and hold up one, two, or three fingers according to this code:

1 = You are a normal person who can occasionally assert yourself on an issue you are passionate about, but you handle yourself in a non-confrontational way in nearly all occasions.

2 = You can consistently assert yourself in a non-confrontational way and are occasionally an asshole, but you feel horrible about it afterward, and you may or may not apologize (but you probably will have to confess your remorse to someone).

3 = You can consistently be an asshole and you either do not recognize this or you simply enjoy it.

By the way, 0 in her system means this:

0 = You are a very nice person, and very passive. No one can say a word against you and would never think to call you an asshole.

If you are safe in your position, then calling assholes out is a good way to deal with them.

De-escalate and re-educate. This strategy requires that the asshole you’re dealing with isn’t a “chronic,” “certified,” and “flagrant” asshole. It means meeting asshole behavior with calmness (instead of either similar behavior or fear) and trying to re-educate the person about how he’s behaving.

Stand up to them. Funny thing about assholes: Standing up to them shouldn’t necessarily scare you.

Follow these few rules and I'm sure you'll do great. It'll be interesting to see how long this compromise business keeps up, and whether the Republicans will reciprocate the compromise love.

Namaste,