Sad but true toon: Save my Job

[n2doc]

[DaveinJapan]

1. OMG. nt.

[soryang]

2. The national infrastructure is crumbling everywhere

I've been in towns where the water is shut off because of main collapse. You go into hospitality businesses and smell raw sewage. Travel stops are reducing food services because of increased food costs. Most American highways are literally crumbling. In five years this country will look like an a science fiction post apocalyptic nightmare. I don't believe the transportation system can last another five years.

I'm all in favor of "green" developement but the standard bricks and mortar USA is falling apart. We don't even maintain that. At least five million Americans could be given standard construction jobs today building public infrastructure.

[Obamanaut]

3. Seems like now would be the ideal time to reevaluate the amount and

recipients of foreign aid.

There are ample projects in the US that could use that money, even assisting the homeless/jobless.

Oh, and close all the military sites worldwide and bring all those troops/dependants home. Immediately save $ currently being spent on leases and salaries of civilian workers at those sites.

Spread the returning troops/dependants among the bases in the US that have been downsized. Immediate influx of $ in those local economies.

Gradually reduce the overall troop strength via normal attrition as enlistments expire along with reduced recruiting efforts.

Let the Department of Defense become the Department FOR Defense, and stop being the policemen to the world.

[baldguy]

4. The amount of money the US spends on foreign aid is a pittance.

Any cuts wouldn't free up very much money, it would only be a symbolic act to mollify the RW, and millions of people around the world would suffer.

[Obamanaut]

6. Here's a (not necessarily current) chart that shows what looks to me

like much more than a pittance.

A couple billion here and there would fix up several roads/bridges/sewer systems. Here in the US.

[soryang]

5. It's not a secret what needs to be done

Only the globalists, defense contractors and financial elites running the country pretend not to understand it.

I agree with your points 100 percent.

[pampango]

7. Our foreign aid is 0.16% of our economy - pretty pathetic by most standards.

The Nordic countries are the most generous followed by Europe's big countries, France, the UK and Germany, then Japan and then the US.

[Obamanaut]

8. An amount which could be used to fix stuff in the US. It no longer has

to be a case of 'my stack in the chart is bigger than your stack.'

[pampango]

9. So we should send zero foreign aid even if it benefits poorer people because they

are "others".

If I were European or Japanese I would be proud that "my stack" is bigger than "your stack" since it represents the generosity of my country's citizens towards alleviating the poverty of "others" rather than keeping for "us". If I spend more time volunteering or give more of my income to charity than others, I am proud of that. When I come across someone who does a better job of those than I do, I feel kind of bad.

[Obamanaut]

10. I would prefer that 'my stack' go here (DU link in msg) than where it currently goes.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x299221

There are numerous ways those billions could be used in the US. If someone is being helped here at home, one can get the same good feeling. Can't one?

[pampango]

11. I don't resent $0.16 of every $100 I earn going to the foreign poor. Much more is

spent locally, statewide and nationally as it should be. But Angolans are people, too, so they are welcome to a part of my $0.16.

The needs of America's poor are more effectively provided for by reducing our income inequality through an improved safety net, more progressive taxation and regulation of the market than it is by taking my $0.16 destined for foreign poor people. Our economy wastes untold billion of military expenditures, corporate excesses and the like for me to be able to justify going after the $0.16 that goes to poor people who aren't Americans.