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If you believe - as many do - that our "defense" agenda is much of what protects the dollar's continued status as a nearly universal reserve currency, our defen

by Encosia 16y ago

If you believe - as many do - that our "defense" agenda is much of what protects the dollar's continued status as a nearly universal reserve currency, our defense budget is an amazing investment (notwithstanding the terrible, non-monetary costs that accompany defense spending).

loewenskind 16y ago
Wait, so you're saying that the dollar stays relevant because the US is using violence to ensure it stays so? And you're calling such activity an "investment"?
- Encosia 16y ago
  That's trying to pin a bit of an exaggerated worst interpretation on me, isn't it? We don't have to endorse or approve of things to see them for what they are. Moreover, defense spending doesn't necessarily equate to violence. Look at the trillions spent during the cold war, paradoxically spent to avoid violence.
  - loewenskind 16y ago
    >That's trying to pin a bit of an exaggerated worst interpretation on me, isn't it? No, I'm trying to get you to look at what you just said. Spending money on killing people isn't an "investment" no matter what you find out in doing so. >Look at the trillions spent during the cold war, paradoxically spent to avoid violence. I think if you look into it you'll find that that money was indeed spent on violence. Just by violence by proxy.
    - Encosia 16y ago
      If defense spending keeps the dollar strong, it is the definition of an investment. What word would you prefer used to describe the US' empire building/maintaining, and why? Even today, during two active wars, if you look through the appropriations bills you'll find that a surprisingly large amount of US defense spending is not spent on violence. Back in the cold war, the proportion spent on maintaining that detente was even greater.
      - loewenskind 16y ago
        >If defense spending keeps the dollar strong, it is the definition of an investment. If killing or threatening to kill others keeps the dollar strong it's an investment? So in that case mafia violence is also an investment, right?
        Encosia 16y ago
        Is investing in McDonald's or BP not an investment? Both wreck lives too. Like I said before, acknowledging things for what they are doesn't mean that we also endorse or approve of those things. I certainly don't approve of the US' actions overseas, personally. We seem to be on a subjective, slippery slope here. What would you call it, if not an investment? You skipped that part.

by Encosia 16y ago

loewenskind 16y ago

Wait, so you're saying that the dollar stays relevant because the US is using violence to ensure it stays so? And you're calling such activity an "investment"?

Encosia 16y ago
That's trying to pin a bit of an exaggerated worst interpretation on me, isn't it? We don't have to endorse or approve of things to see them for what they are. Moreover, defense spending doesn't necessarily equate to violence. Look at the trillions spent during the cold war, paradoxically spent to avoid violence.
- loewenskind 16y ago
  >That's trying to pin a bit of an exaggerated worst interpretation on me, isn't it? No, I'm trying to get you to look at what you just said. Spending money on killing people isn't an "investment" no matter what you find out in doing so. >Look at the trillions spent during the cold war, paradoxically spent to avoid violence. I think if you look into it you'll find that that money was indeed spent on violence. Just by violence by proxy.
  - Encosia 16y ago
    If defense spending keeps the dollar strong, it is the definition of an investment. What word would you prefer used to describe the US' empire building/maintaining, and why? Even today, during two active wars, if you look through the appropriations bills you'll find that a surprisingly large amount of US defense spending is not spent on violence. Back in the cold war, the proportion spent on maintaining that detente was even greater.
    - loewenskind 16y ago
      >If defense spending keeps the dollar strong, it is the definition of an investment. If killing or threatening to kill others keeps the dollar strong it's an investment? So in that case mafia violence is also an investment, right?
      - Encosia 16y ago
        Is investing in McDonald's or BP not an investment? Both wreck lives too. Like I said before, acknowledging things for what they are doesn't mean that we also endorse or approve of those things. I certainly don't approve of the US' actions overseas, personally. We seem to be on a subjective, slippery slope here. What would you call it, if not an investment? You skipped that part.