The US Military Budget: Too much or too little?
Вставка
- Опубліковано 24 чер 2023
- Mike, Jake, and Tim break down how the US military spends $850+ BILLION PER YEAR. Where does it all go? Who gets what? What are the trends to track? Is it too much money…or not enough? Tune in to find out. We'll make you smart on the defense budget-we guarantee it.----
Links
* SUBSCRIBE to our amazing newsletter
* SUPPORT us on Patreon
----
Follow us on...
* Instagram / merge_newsletter
* Facebook / themergenews
* Twitter / mergenewsletter
* LinkedIn / themerge
* Website www.themerge.co/
----
Show Notes
(00:30) intro
(02:39) joke time
(04:24) Jon Stewart’s interview
(05:54) the budget basics
(08:19) slices of the pie, by branch
(11:49) slices of the pie, by use
(12:47) RDT&E slice
(17:21) procurement slice
(26:37) personnel slice
(36:00) O&M slice
(37:10) Why O&M is so high
(39:10) innovation in production
(43:51) how much is enough? Toplines
(46:37) GDP
(51:25) NATO GDP
(54:16) balancing the budget
(56:32) defense vs. non-defense
(59:48) sequestration lessons not learned
( 1:02:17) outro
I love a good manometer / mais non mais non joke (a manometer is a device used to read gas pressure and NOT, as I had originally assumed, a device used to take the measure of a man)
As a Navy Supply Corps Officer stationed in Guam, this one was a really interesting watch. There are all these rules, tools, and regulations in place to ensure reduction in waste at the lowest level that become burdensome (and sometimes for very trivial savings) to getting the actual mission done. I’d love to see how the audit process is done at the upper echelons of our beloved DoD. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite podcasts. Keep it up!!!
Thank you all three for the wonderful discussion on the mil budget!
Great commentary on procurement, budget allocation, and amazing insights into how procurement and R&D has changed over time. Your example of comparing the Century Series with the F-35 program really illustrates how these costs are paying for a 66-year expected lifecycle, with expected upgrades, maintenance, and even the fuel to operate them over those years are included. Loved your iPhone analogy, and the jokes at the end were much better.
Found you by way of your appearances on Ward Carroll's channel. Definitely subscribed, love your content, and will share.
Thanks!
Appreciate the mention of the US Forest Service as a legit form of service to the nation at about 32:20.
Boring backstory... Out of high school I joined the Forest Service for Wildland Firefighting. After one fire season I was willingly drafted into the US Army (Spring 1971). I volunteered for Airborne every chance I got. Not only did the Army send me Airborne they also sent me to Non-Commissioned Officer Candidate School. I became a hard stripe Sargent (E5) only 8 months into my enlistment.
ETS in 1973 I returned to the Forest Service and enjoyed a 28-year career taking fire assignments all across the lower 48 states.
I highly recommend both the US Forest Service and the US Army as career commitments.
Great story, thanks for sharing.
@@TheMergeMedia Thanks for noticing my little comment. I'm signed up for, read and enjoy much of The Merge email content as well.
I really enjoyed and was rewarded by my short time in the Eighty Deuce. Had it not been for the USFS and my desire for Wildland Firefighting I likely would have reenlisted. No surprise, I am Lifetime Member of the 82nd Airborne Division Association, The 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment Association and the US Hot Shots Association.
In other words, I frequently stink up reunions...
This is all completely fascinating, while at the same time you are making it fun. 👏🏻
Thank you from Italy!
32:31, bringing back bad memories.
Fascinating discussion! Thanks!
Until we can build an actual Death Star, the US defense budget will NEVER be enough.
It is non-discretionary budget that is eating an increasingly large slice of funds….MEDICAID in particular. Those who are on MEDICARE actually paid and continue to pay for it…..except for those who paid nothing but are “allowed” to take.
Good presentation. A point to consider. Time stamp 39:00 In the cost over the lifetime, I wonder how much added GDP is gained from such programs? It is economic activity, you pointed out yourself that such figures even include the cost of the fuel. Someone has to produce that fuel and the spare parts and the R&D over time. It all adds up to jobs and taxes and economic activity, probably right here at home.
You need more Beer, you can't solve all the worlds problems without beer (so to speak).
on another note how many Jets did the AF get rid of last year ??
🍺 yes!
The human costs are eating up the budget.
Sequestration for non-discretionary spending…needs to happen soon.
In the short term (5 years), the Air Force is the heavy lift to defend Taiwan. The US Navy is too far behind on ship and submarine builds. Block 5 Virginia class subs were just delayed another year (ie, Ohio class SSGNs will start to retire before their replacements enter service.)
Smarter than we are smart.
It’s criminal this video only has 381 views so far. I guess people need headlines about Hunter’s laptop or Kushner’s Saudi deals to click.
Thanks for the support! We'll figure out this internet thing eventually.😂
@@TheMergeMedia Typically, it’s just a matter of criticality. You slog for months or a couple years with slow growth and then all of a sudden you start growing in leaps and bounds. There are also ways to game the system to grow faster. I am sure you can easily find them. As long as you’re using the tactics to grow a channel with original content rather than just being another channel that repackages other people’s content, it’s a legit way to grow.
"Submarine"? ... keep your day job. ✨️
We never said they were good jokes 🙃
While the future is unpredictable I wonder if the US army is now lacking a purpose. The US's number 1# pacing threat is China, which will be the job of Marines/air-force/navy. For example In what other scenarios would the Army's 5000+ main battle tanks be relevant?
I don't think there are easy answers, especially when a force has to be sized and equipped for multiple futures at once. Very few wars in history were predicted accurately.
Smarter, faster, better, etc……than I am.
How about we take all of the money heading to Ukraine and put that into things that will actually help us in the Pacific..
Isn't most of that older equipment the US already bought?
If you’re an E-2 you make too much money to get food stamps in CALIFORNIA…. I am a bit perplexed by Jon’s words.
It would actually be pretty easy to start closing tax loopholes, increase taxes substantially (including capital gains) for the top 1% of earners, and the largest most profitable companies.
It would also be pretty easy to fine corporations who skirt and break regulations in every economic sector ungodly amounts of money, especially repeat offenders.
Most of the national debt is owed to ourselves! Especially through social security.
That would help to decrease the national debt but it won’t eliminate it. Unfortunately Congress as an institution is broken.
Addition: most national debt is owed to ourselves through not only social security, but also the federal reserve, local and state governments and other domestic institutions.
How about a podcast on the subject of just “how long a real war would last in the near future?” Say for instance, China takes Taiwan and we and our allies decide to declare war on China….how long will it last? Many other choices available for the basis of discussion.
the government doesnt need to fund. let the private market do it and they will make the product even better. Though government should be in control of the military and not privatize it.
That's the requirements game. DoD has a very hard time buying anything off the shelf; they have to exquisite the shit out of whatever it is.
Interest on the debt is 2 billion per day that does not leave much.
Aren't we talking with the PI government wrt access to our former bases on Luzon?