General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Paul Krugman Tells GOP Senator: ‘Your Facts Are False’ On Social Security [View all]this country spend to defend countries like Germany and Japan? My point is World War II ended decades ago, yet we spend a lot of our GDP on the military after World War II. Sources claim that out of 1.4 Trillion dollars spent on the military throughout the World, the U.S. spends 48 percent of that. Germany and Japan don't need to spend much on defense because we are scared that might retreat back to their past behavior. It takes money to run an Empire. And we don't get any tribute like the Romans did in the past or British when they maintained an Empire. My guess is the only economical benefits go to the elite or the top percent. The country of Israel's defense budget is said to get 18 percent of their budget from American tax payers. You have to ask the question, how could a tiny country like Israel with a population less than many American states, sustain one of the most highly equipped military in the World. It takes money to sustain such a military. Especially when you consider the cost of some of these weapon systems. The same can apply to South Korea's military. They do not repay us through taxes or what they use to refer to as tribute.