Am 04.11.2010 21:20, schrieb Matthew Kelly:






A big problem with the military budget is that the military
is getting, and having to spend on, things/programs they
neither want nor need. That "group of corrupt,
self-interested, charlatans" doesn't want any weapons system,
base, or program cut if it negatively affects their
districts. Having a brother who was involved in planning for
the future development of the USMC that was one big headache.
The biggest cost is actually people and all the dependents
that go with them.







Well, I think it's all too easy to simply consider this a matter of
politicians' vices. Now, I dare say personal corruption in terms of
corporate campaign contributions (in my view legalised bribery) will
play its part. But such politicians are also genuinely protecting
jobs in the constituencies they're serving. That's what their voters
expect them to do. So you can't really blame them for doing so.



Now this does get a little perverse when industry sets up production
facilities and the like particularly in the constituencies of
influential politicians as was the case in say Rep. Murtha's or Sen.
Stevens districts/states. But that's just a case of people
particularly skillfully maxing out advantages out of a flawed
system. All perfectly rational actors. Name-calling solves nothing.



You have to move on to systemic reform. Both in terms of defence
procurement and campaign funding, if you ask me. That's what I'd be
gunning for were I American.



Now, here in Germany campaign contributions don't play much of a
role since our parties are largely financed by membership fees
(since party membership is more like being in a big club/association
- I myself used to be a CDU member) and public matching funds (don't
you guys sorta also have this for campaigns, but candidates usually
opt out of this?). TV advertising also plays a negligible role here.
Our public media have to broadcast a certain amount of ads for free
during election campaigns. Don't think they really have much of an
impact, for one we don't seem to have negative ads. In any case,
parties here don't spend money on TV ads. Their money goes into mail
campaigns, billboards, the web, rallies and such. All means that
campaigns here cost but a small fraction of what they cost in the
US.



But to return to the issue of ingrained opposition to defence cuts,
well, in Germany I'd say there are TOO MANY demands for defence
cuts. It's a constant struggle to not have the defence budget
further downsized for the sake of other expenditure. But where
there's a lot of ingrained opposition is when it comes to closing
military bases. Most garrison towns really want to keep the business
and jobs the military provides (this also applies to foreign units
stationed on German soil, for that matter). The last wave of base
closures caused no end of fuss among local mayors and such.



Anyway, as we're now about to end the military draft here in
Germany, this will lead to a considerable restructuring of the
Bundeswehr. Frankly, I am worried that the parties will reduce the
Bundeswehr far too much for a country of Germany's size and military
obligations within EU and NATO structures. Obviously that suits
those people just fine who believe we have no business maintaining
troop contingents in Afghanistan. I am not one of them, for I
believe we owe it to Afghanistan to help build a better future
there. Which also requires a military presence. Pretty dismayed most
of my compatriots don't see it that way.



Ah well, hope I've not bored you to tears with this digression into
politics. I wonder: Are Dippers disproportionately political
junkies? Considering the game's nature, that seems rather likely to
me. I'm certainly guilty of being one!



Cheers,



Charles