The Best Defense Policy for the US...

[kentuck]

... is NOT spending a trillion dollars a year on contracts and military toys.

The best defense policy for our country is a well-educated populace, that has access to great healthcare, and works to create the largest middle-class in the world.

Also, the best defense policy would have a great transportation system with the most modern infrastructure.

This would make us stronger than all the weapons in the world.

[EX500rider]

1. Not sure how those would help in a hot war with Russia and China.

[kentuck]

2. We have enough weapons to blow up the world several times over.

We have our troops and military spread around the world.

As our infrastructure deteriorates to 3rd World status, with one of worst-educated populations in the world, without the political courage to offer the best healthcare for our people, it weakens us as a nation, even with the strongest military on earth.

What would we be fighting for if we were in a "hot war"?

[EX500rider]

3. "What would we be fighting for if we were in a "hot war""

To prevent losing or annihilation from countries with even worse infrastructure/healthcare/education?

Should we spend more on those? Yes
Could we spend less on defense? Yes

But none of those things will stop or win a war with another large country.

[kentuck]

4. Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway bill as part of our national defense system.

Infrastructure is a big part of defense. Yes, we probably spend too much on weapons when we spend more than any other country in world, several times over? That does not make us stronger, in my opinion. It makes us weaker.

If we had to use those weapons, there would be nothing left. What would we have won??

[EX500rider]

5. "What would we have won??"

Well if a strong nuclear umbrella prevents another country from nuking all our cities I'd say we prevented the annihilation of most of our populace and productive infrastructure.

If we lost a war to China and Russia I don't see a upside.

[kentuck]

6. That is assuming that another country would attack us, knowing they would be annihilated and..

..that they could not get thru our "nuclear umbrella" ?? I don't know...

I guess I tend to agree with the fellow that said if America was ever defeated, it would be from within, not from without. Was that Lincoln? Jefferson? Or Someone Else?

I think we do indeed spend too much on "defense" and "offense" weaponry. I think that should be part of the Democratic platform.