SS dies in 2017??!

[Trollbait]

so I get all my tax moiney back PLUS some.

I am sure what you meant to say was .........

so I get all my tax moiney back PLUS some of YOURS.

[Partha]

Lets put government salaries in check.

Actually, government salaries tend to be significantly lower than private sector salaries. Even the President doesn't actually make that much money. The problem with cutting salaries even more is you increase corruption and make it more difficult to retain good people in government positions. A Senator earning $40k/yr is far more susceptible to bribes than a Senator earning $200k/yr, and by offering good wages you're more likely to get a competent Senator.

Cutting government wages really isn't likely to do much at all. Like I said - check out the budget graph and you can quite easily find spots to cut back if you want to eat a little political flak. Personally I think the US could happily halve military spending without too much effort. It means you'd have to throw out the "2-and-a-half-wars" doctrine as well as firming up a bunch of alliances while being a lot more discerning about where and how to station troops overseas. Probably want to be a bit smarter at picking fights too, but that's another debate.

Dd

Indeed, the 2 1/2 wars doctrine is one of the stupidest things government has done EVER.

[Embar Angylwrath]

I agree. The 2 wars doctrine is a legacy of the cold war, adapted to the Iraq-North Korea question. Iraq is now out of equation, and NK just ain't in serious play (even if they did go off the reservation, no need to invade a country that doesn't have sustainable infrstructure). We can cripple NK in 3 days if we want to (assuming we will use tactical nukes, as they are likely to do).

My personal philosophy on military readiness is to keep assets available to direct a military engagement with ratios of 5-1 on foreign soil, and 3-1 on home turf. Also, keep tactical nukes ready for deployment against "networks" which transverse borders and poilitical idealologies. And maintain advantage of high ground, which means controlling the skys, and probably low earth orbit space.