Sanders Rips Lawmakers Saying 'We Don't Have the Money' While Backing $900 Billion for Military

www.commondreams.org Sanders Rips Lawmakers Saying 'We Don't Have the Money' While Backing $900 Billion for Military | Common Dreams

"I think it's time to tell the military-industrial complex they cannot get everything they want," said Sen. Bernie Sanders. "It's time to pay attention to the needs of working families."

"I think it's time to tell the military-industrial complex they cannot get everything they want," said Sen. Bernie Sanders. "It's time to pay attention to the needs of working families."

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81 comments

Defund the police and military.
- Only a Sith deals in absolutes. I think "Defund" is a bit drastic given the current state of the world, but it is possible that we don't need to maintain 11 aircraft carriers, in the same way that every small town Pennsylvania Police department doesn't need their very own armored personnel carrier. Moderation in all things.
  
  The problem is we maintain half of them forward deployed in roughly 3 areas at any one time.
  But yeah that's why our military is so expensive. If it wasn't constantly forward deployed it would be much cheaper.
  
  We really should be working with our allies to get their own military in the area. Mainly in Europe. If I'm being realistic, we probably will never leave Asia.
  
  You can't steal shit through another countries military though.
  
  Defund is the only slogan that has had actual sticking power though. To have nuance on this topic and have it actually matter, you would have to create a new slogan on the same level. Otherwise you're just armchair politicking from the internet same as everyone else
  Now, with that out of the way, defund is still a good slogan. The primary reason is if we defund the police then we can create something that is not called police that isn't beholden to all of the laws and regulations and the corrupt unions that perpetuate the current systemic problems
  Defund as a slogan is about cutting past the red tape of reform and starting from scratch to build something systemically better
  
  Protests don't work so we should stop protesting? That is honestly the most brain dead thing I've heard yet on the subject!
  If you want to retire it, make something better like I already said. We can't retire it until there's something to replace it.
  
  The problem is, regardless of what you actually mean by it in your heart, "Defund" SOUNDS extreme, and people don't listen to extremests. Getting rid of 100% of all law enforcement is an objectively, and verifiably, a terrible idea. They need to be curbed, and trained, and limited, and not be made to feel like they are all a combination of Rambo and Jesus in sunglasses. An ACAB mentality leaves no possibility for improvement, so why should they even try?
  
  and people don’t listen to extremests.
  Which is why Harris beat Trump.
  You're right, though. We shouldn't use "defund." It's far too milquetoast.
  ABOLISH.
  
  Then do it. Make it a bigger deal. But don't just sit there and decry what is actually working as a rallying slogan when you have nothing to contribute. When your slogan is a better slogan with a better message behind it, then I will switch my own tune to your ideas.
  
  "Don't defund them, just reduce the amount of funds they can spend aircradt carriers and remove the funds for armored vehicles."
  
  Ya, basically. Particularly with the APCs, eliminate the military surplus purchase program that lets cops have war machines for pennies as long as they find a way to use them. ::: spoiler SPOILER They ALWAYS will :::
  I don't like cops either, but having ZERO law enforcement is the same thing as pure anarchy.
  
  I'm saying that reducing funds is literally defunding

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