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Ask a Vet - Addendum
Author: BobR    Date: 2015-11-04 11:17:31

In January 2009, President Barack Obama was sworn in as president. Almost immediately, the Tea Party sprang up, proclaiming they were "Taxed Enough Already". All who opposed the president (and the concept of liberalism in general) began complaining that government was too big, and they needed tax relief. Politicians of every stripe proclaim every election cycle that they will "cut taxes".

The reality is that family federal income tax rates have been dropping for decades. For an "average" family of four, they paid their highest rate (11.79%) in 1981. Since then rates have dropped steadily with some minor fluctuations. In 2014, the rate was 5.34%, less than half the rate in 1981. There's not much lower that they can go.

Because of this we've had to cut federal spending as well, and budget deficits have become harder to erase with decreasing tax revenue for government programs. As has been the case for decades, our military is our single biggest budget item. Our military spending is a much larger percentage of our budget than most of our allies, which is why they have high-speed trains, high-speed internet, free college, and complete low-cost health care coverage, and we don't.

You'd hope that all that taxpayer money that gets fed into the maw of the military-industrial complex would get spent on worthwhile things. The reality is much more grim.

We're all familiar with the problems with the VA. The hospital/doctor network meant to care for our soldiers returning home from war has been a nightmare for decades. Like most things budgetary these days, it is kept open only via stop-gap funding bills, and is hurt by automatic budget cuts (aka: The Sequester). Of all the things we spend money on in the military, the soldiers should always come first, but they seem to be treated like so much disposable military hardware.

Well-connected contractors always seem to come first. Over the last 12 years, they've raked in $385 Billion, and that's just to maintain overseas bases:
Once upon a time, however, the military, not contractors, built the barracks, cleaned the clothes, and peeled the potatoes at these bases. This started to change during the Vietnam War, when Brown & Root, better known to critics as "Burn & Loot" (later KBR), began building major military installations in South Vietnam as part of a contractor consortium.

The use of contractors accelerated following the Cold War's end, part of a larger trend toward the privatization of formerly public services. By the first Gulf War, one in 100 deployed personnel was a contractor. Later in the 1990s, during US military operations in Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Italy, and especially the Balkans, Brown & Root received more than $2 billion in base-support and logistics contracts for base construction and maintenance, food services, waste removal, water production, transportation services, and much more.

By the second Gulf War, contractors represented roughly one in two deployed personnel in Iraq, with the company now known as KBR employing more than 50,000 people, or enough to staff 100 army battalions. Burger Kings, Starbucks, and car dealerships, as well as air conditioning, steak, and ice cream became regular features of often city-sized bases. However, this wasn't a phenomenon restricted to war zones. US bases worldwide look much the same, which helps explain the staggering taxpayer dollars they consume.

Halliburton (former veep Dick Cheney's company) was the beneficiary of "cost-plus" contracts, whereby they buy supplies and ask for reimbursement, and get that, plus a margin of profit. How did the government not see this as a huge motivator for waste?

The work KBR performed under LOGCAP also reflected the Pentagon's frequent use of "cost-plus" contracts. These reimburse a company for its expenses and then add a fee that's usually fixed contractually or determined by a performance evaluation board. The Congressional Research Service explained that because "increased costs mean increased fees to the contractor," there is "no incentive for the contractor to limit the government's costs." As one Halliburton official told a congressional committee bluntly, the company's unofficial mantra in Iraq became "Don't worry about price. It's ‘cost-plus.'"

So why get a Humvee fixed when you can burn it, declare it a loss, and buy another one on the government's dime (and get a better profit for it than fixing it)?

The "open check" mentality has led to the infamous budgetary and engineering boondogle of the F-35 Joint Force Striker. This military solution looking for a problem has sucked up nearly $400 Billion, and it still isn't battle-ready yet.

Perhaps that's why it's so galling to find out that all those nice "honor the troops" displays you see now at sporting events (that we never saw before 9/11) are paid for by - you guessed it American taxpayers via the military:
At the same time Congress and the president have imposed caps on military spending, the Department of Defense has paid at least $6 million in taxpayer money to 16 NFL teams across the country, including $377,500 to the Jets, with the bulk spent by the National Guard.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz) last week called out the New Jersey Army National Guard for the spending, which, in part, paid for a segment at Jets home games in which soldiers were featured on the big screen, thanked for their service and given tickets to the game.

Flake said most in the general public believe the segments were heartfelt salutes by their hometown football team, not an advertising campaign paid for with their money.

Ya think?

We pay for jet fighters that don't work, military contractors to do shoddy work and rake in profits regardless, and jingoistic displays under false pretenses, and yet we still manage to short-change the soldiers both during and after their service.

It's shameful.
 

29 comments (Latest Comment: 11/04/2015 20:57:26 by TriSec)
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Comment by wickedpam on 11/04/2015 14:07:38
Morning

Comment by Raine on 11/04/2015 14:15:24
WOAH!

Comment by Raine on 11/04/2015 14:15:45
Stuttering Jon is the new Producer!

Comment by wickedpam on 11/04/2015 14:16:32
Stuttering John - wow - did not see that one coming.

Never listened to Stern but he is a legend in their industry and John was part of that.

Comment by Raine on 11/04/2015 14:19:07
Quote by wickedpam:
Stuttering John - wow - did not see that one coming.

Never listened to Stern but he is a legend in their industry and John was part of that.
This is a great thing. The guy was a producer for Jay Leno as well.


Comment by wickedpam on 11/04/2015 14:27:00
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Stuttering John - wow - did not see that one coming.

Never listened to Stern but he is a legend in their industry and John was part of that.
This is a great thing. The guy was a producer for Jay Leno as well.


*hoists Letterman flag* Didn't watch Leno either. But I get what you're saying

Yeah, this has some potential for awesomeness.

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/04/2015 14:29:24
I have but one thing to say about Stuttering John producing SMS.

BABA BOOEY


Comment by Scoopster on 11/04/2015 14:31:28
Mornin' all! Stuttering John eh? What kind of play are they going for here?

Comment by wickedpam on 11/04/2015 14:33:31
Quote by Mondobubba:
I have but one thing to say about Stuttering John producing SMS.

BABA BOOEY


http://static.tumblr.com/1531ff9f8d098afffeaea521da18b4b4/zwddwzp/i8Kmhw2sl/tumblr_static_tumblr_m6kfo7o99r1qjxl1no2_r1_250.gif


Comment by Raine on 11/04/2015 14:34:24
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all! Stuttering John eh? What kind of play are they going for here?
He wanted the job according to what they are saying this morning. I am actually pretty exited. I hadn't thought of it, since he's be doing standup here and there but he seems like a good person to replace Chris. Those are big shoes to fill.

He a solid liberal as well.


Comment by Raine on 11/04/2015 14:41:26
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
I have but one thing to say about Stuttering John producing SMS.

BABA BOOEY


http://static.tumblr.com/1531ff9f8d098afffeaea521da18b4b4/zwddwzp/i8Kmhw2sl/tumblr_static_tumblr_m6kfo7o99r1qjxl1no2_r1_250.gif



Comment by TriSec on 11/04/2015 14:41:38
So, a post-mortem. I pulled these figures from the city site, but last night the local cable channel had me in fourth place with the 3,000 vote figure. I don't know which one is accurate at the moment.


CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE (elect 3):

Click here to watch LWV of Waltham's School Committee Candidate Night

*MARGARET M. DONNELLY - Candidate for Re-Election - 5,393 Votes

*JOHN B. GRACEFFA - Candidate for Re-Election - 5,941 Votes

*EDMUND TARALLO - Candidate for Re-Election - 5,180 Votes

ELIZABETH A. ALJAMMAL - 3,723 Votes

DAVID M. MATAYABAS - 1,594 Votes


It is my next-door neighbor that had the best take, via his book of face:


Truly a sad commentary on the entire city, 11,000 people out of 64,000 went to the polls to vote for Mayor. I have heard people say they don't vote because it takes too long or they are too busy. My wife and I are just as busy as everyone else, If I am late to work I'm late, I take time to vote. My wife voted after work and I voted at 8:00 this morning. One freaking day to wait 10 minutes is not much to ask. I vote at Government Center and every time it's as if I am the last person in the city of Waltham, all alone, in and out in 5 minutes. Truly a sad and disturbing trend. The Vote was for change, which was to be Tom Stanley, but most could not be bothered and now have to take the status quo.





Comment by Raine on 11/04/2015 14:51:52
Excellent Blog, Bobber. I was so pissed when I heard about the DOD PAYING professional sports teams —

Comment by wickedpam on 11/04/2015 15:15:47
Quote by TriSec:
So, a post-mortem. I pulled these figures from the city site, but last night the local cable channel had me in fourth place with the 3,000 vote figure. I don't know which one is accurate at the moment.


CANDIDATES FOR SCHOOL COMMITTEE (elect 3):

Click here to watch LWV of Waltham's School Committee Candidate Night

*MARGARET M. DONNELLY - Candidate for Re-Election - 5,393 Votes

*JOHN B. GRACEFFA - Candidate for Re-Election - 5,941 Votes

*EDMUND TARALLO - Candidate for Re-Election - 5,180 Votes

ELIZABETH A. ALJAMMAL - 3,723 Votes

DAVID M. MATAYABAS - 1,594 Votes


It is my next-door neighbor that had the best take, via his book of face:


Truly a sad commentary on the entire city, 11,000 people out of 64,000 went to the polls to vote for Mayor. I have heard people say they don't vote because it takes too long or they are too busy. My wife and I are just as busy as everyone else, If I am late to work I'm late, I take time to vote. My wife voted after work and I voted at 8:00 this morning. One freaking day to wait 10 minutes is not much to ask. I vote at Government Center and every time it's as if I am the last person in the city of Waltham, all alone, in and out in 5 minutes. Truly a sad and disturbing trend. The Vote was for change, which was to be Tom Stanley, but most could not be bothered and now have to take the status quo.






I'm sorry Tri - they don't know the amazingness they are missing.

Comment by Scoopster on 11/04/2015 15:20:25
30.7% turnout in Kentucky yesterday...

Comment by trojanrabbit on 11/04/2015 16:09:58
Quote by Scoopster:
30.7% turnout in Kentucky yesterday...

I've run out of fucks to give.
If they're too lazy to go vote and let 16% call the shots then to hell with them.

At least it can't be said that Drew Curtis farked things up.

Comment by Raine on 11/04/2015 16:29:45
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Quote by Scoopster:
30.7% turnout in Kentucky yesterday...

I've run out of fucks to give.
If they're too lazy to go vote and let 16% call the shots then to hell with them.

At least it can't be said that Drew Curtis farked things up.
I am bewildered to be honest.

They elected a Dem AG and SoS….

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/04/2015 16:32:54
Quote by Raine:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Quote by Scoopster:
30.7% turnout in Kentucky yesterday...

I've run out of fucks to give.
If they're too lazy to go vote and let 16% call the shots then to hell with them.

At least it can't be said that Drew Curtis farked things up.
I am bewildered to be honest.

They elected a Dem AG and SoS….



We have a new entry in the dumbest Republican governor contest.

Comment by Mondobubba on 11/04/2015 16:44:26
Comment by trojanrabbit on 11/04/2015 16:50:19
Comment by BobR on 11/04/2015 17:37:05

likes "sword" fighting, does he?

Comment by Raine on 11/04/2015 17:51:14
Quote by trojanrabbit:


FTFY
Oh, I had to look that up!


Comment by Mondobubba on 11/04/2015 18:52:34
Quote by BobR:

likes "sword" fighting, does he?


This kind:

http://blog.chughtaimuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/Actual-cock-fight.jpg


Get your minds out of the guttah.

Comment by Raine on 11/04/2015 19:34:28
Britain is saying that the Russian Jet may have been brought down by an explosive device.

Comment by Raine on 11/04/2015 19:36:08
Comment by TriSec on 11/04/2015 20:51:54



Hmph. 2400 Block, as reported, is a bit offline from the extended centerline of RW 27, and about 2,000 feet from the threshold. Decision height would be about 800 feet, listed on the approach plate at 1.2 nautical miles.



Comment by TriSec on 11/04/2015 20:57:26
KSAN RW 27 ILS plate

Yes, I know how to read this.