West Virginia Republican: The minimum wage is archaic

[Dan J 277]

Many on the right (and left) think it is long past time to close those bases, or at least put them in mothballs.

What do you think would happen to those economies in some of those towns and areas should we do it?

If a town depends solely on the a military base to keep its economy going, isn't the town basically on welfare?

Why is it if Europe is so fantastically strong and successful ..... why are US bases all over the place defending them?

Why do you assume that our bases in Europe are there to defend Europe?

[Heracles 417]

Look, turn this argument on it's head: How dare businesses operate on the assumption that the taxpayer will feed, house and medically care for the people that work for them? If you can't run a business in a way that offers gainful employment to the people that you ask to work for you, then you have no business running that business.

As a taxpayer, I am sick and tired of subsidizing these fcuked up businesses that can't take care of themselves. Or, to put it in your terms, that haven't prepared themselves for that role.

Strange how businesses operating under such conditions abroad do not fail and are doing well.

Edited October 15, 2010 by Heracles

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Strange how businesses operating under such conditions abroad do not fail and are doing well.

Exactly. My friend runs a successful small business in Germany - manufacturing business no less. He's got a staff of four and pays his guys better than some of the larger companies in the area pay theirs. And he's got some very talented folks working for him. And they're sticking around. As a result, he manages to outperform those business that decide to hire on the cheap and consequently have to deal with unmotivated, less skilled staff that come and go frequently. Short term gain vs. long term success - that's really what it boils down to.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Strange how businesses operating under such conditions abroad do not fail and are doing well.

Even stranger is one who is here punching a clock when utopia is only a plane ride away. Odd.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Even stranger is one who is here punching a clock when utopia is only a plane ride away. Odd.

You have no problem paying taxes that subsidize businesses and their shareholders? You stand for corporate and small business welfare? That's odd.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

You have no problem paying taxes that subsidize businesses and their shareholders? You stand for corporate and small business welfare? That's odd.

Even odder is not understanding my reply.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Even odder is not understanding my reply.

Well, you kinda went off track there, buddy. He makes a valid point, no?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Well, you kinda went off track there, buddy. He makes a valid point, no?

[Danno 1,228]

If a town depends solely on the a military base to keep its economy going, isn't the town basically on welfare?

Why do you assume that our bases in Europe are there to defend Europe?

- No, many towns and even cities are dependent on one major company or enterprise such as Shipping, mining, oil and even a military base.

Welfare is when you nurse off the host without much contribution back.

I'm not assuming anything, if you don't think our bases in europe are there to protect it from the once feared threat from Communism.... then give me your take on it.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I'm not assuming anything, if you don't think our bases in europe are there to protect it from the once feared threat from Communism.... then give me your take on it.

Well, that's half the picture, isn't it? The US felt it in it's own interest to avoid a spread of the Soviet empire. However, that threat went away a full two decades ago when the Soviet Union ceased to exist. So what's the purpose of those bases today?

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Well, that's half the picture, isn't it? The US felt it in it's own interest to avoid a spread of the Soviet empire. However, that threat went away a full two decades ago when the Soviet Union ceased to exist. So what's the purpose of those bases today?

Several reasons.

The EU is an economic force, but military wise it's a big zero. European country's don't trust each other...and for good reason, they trust Russia even less...and for good reason. The US is kind of like a "rent an army" for Europe.

If there was no NATO along with a US military presence in Europe, Russia would have most likely moved into Estonia by now. None of the EU country's trust Germany...who btw would sell it's mother for Russian oil and gas which it has already proved, and it's Germany that has the largest economy among the EU nations. With the EU it is "every country for himself" so to say RE: Nordstream Pipeline. The EU looks great on paper, and that's about it.

Edited October 16, 2010 by Why_Me

[Heracles 417]

So the US has no money for anything else - well any investments on Americans - but can find all the money in the world for foreign bases. Can also find the money to pay the ever so hungry and needy private contractors.

I'll never understand this mentality of middle-Americans. Many whom live in poor conditions, in mobile homes, with shitty to no benefits from their place of employment, shitty health care access and high costs, use shitty infrastructure [or lack of], live in run-down dilapidated towns with no money for any improvements, need to rely on walmarts, no hope of improving their Q.O.L etc etc etc [basically stay poor], all seem to have no problem with military expenditure. It's truly bizarre.

Edited October 16, 2010 by Heracles

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Several reasons.

The EU is an economic force, but military wise it's a big zero. European country's don't trust each other...and for good reason, they trust Russia even less...and for good reason. The US is kind of like a "rent an army" for Europe.

If there was no NATO along with a US military presence in Europe, Russia would have most likely moved into Estonia by now. None of the EU country's trust Germany...who btw would sell it's mother for Russian oil and gas which it has already proved, and it's Germany that has the largest economy among the EU nations. With the EU it is "every country for himself" so to say RE: Nordstream Pipeline. The EU looks great on paper, and that's about it.

That's a lot of horsecrap and irrelevant ranting in two short paragraphs. Well done. If you believe for even a minute that the US maintains military bases in Europe for anything but self interest then you're simply kidding yourself.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

That's a lot of horsecrap and irrelevant ranting in two short paragraphs. Well done. If you believe for even a minute that the US maintains military bases in Europe for anything but self interest then you're simply kidding yourself.

Horsecrap ? Did I hit a nerve ? Does WW1 and WW2 hit ring a bell ? How many Americans dies because of European nationalism and greed ? Has Europe learned from any of this ? Yes and no...sans the reason NATO exist.

Do we start with the former Yugoslavia and notice how Europe dragged it's feet stopping the genocide taking place there, or do we show how Germany wouldn't think twice before sticking a knife into it's European NATO ally's for it's own economical benefit ?

Does the name Gerhard Schröder ring a bell ? It should if you are German, Russian, and/or of Baltic decent. Gerhard Schröder was the former Chancellor of Germany and the biggest traitor yet in regards to the EU and NATO. And who did he back ? Why none other than Angela Merkel...another backstabbing traitor in regards to NATO and the EU. Nordstream project is nothing more than Germany turning it's back on it's fellow EU members (especially the ones in Eastern Europe).

The EU is complex.. just ask a Brit. The Brits trust it's fellow EU members as far as they could throw them, and for good reason. They know all too well that without a US military presence in Europe that Europe would eat itself up.

If any of this is over your head, do a google on Nordstream project, Gerhard Schröder, Ukraine's bid for NATO MAP, and Vladimir Putin. It's pretty much a no brainer.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Horsecrap? Did I hit a nerve? Does WW1 and WW2 hit ring a bell ?

You can't hit a nerve with horsecrap. And you sure don't hit one by heaping more of the same onto that pile.