Global spending spree on arms

[dArKeR]

Stockholm - US military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan accounted for the lion's share of increased global military spending last year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in its annual report.

Nations around the world spent a total of $956bn in 2003, up 11% on the previous year, according to the report released on Wednesday.

If the extra funding for Iraq and Afghanistan were excluded, U.S. military expenditure, which accounts for almost half the world's total, would still show a significant increase, but at a much lower rate. World military spending would show a rise of 4%, SIPRI said.

According to SIPRI, high-income countries account for about 75% of global military spending but only 16% of world population.

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1539736,00.html

1. $1 dollar invested into the Mililtary Industrial Complex is equal to $2-3 dollars invested in the private sector. (Look in any Economics text book.)

2. After bankrupting America with MIC spending for the last 2.8 years, the US Economy has little growth, jobs, positive economic signals... to show for the trillion$ Junior has spent.

3. Junior and the GOP's handling of the America economy has been INCOMPETENT. Or is this just part of Satan's plan?

[lapfog_1]

1. Wow.

nearly $1 Trillion. According to the figures that I've been using
in a research paper I'm doing, only $1.2 T would be enough to
completely replace the power generated by fossil fuels and nuclear
power that are used to generate electricity in the US. For 10 years.

My guess is that we could do the same for the world for only 4 times
that much...

So, for 5 years of military budgets, we could have 10 years of
all the electricity you can use, without global warming, and without
the Enrons of the world (Enron only fell because they were cheating
their masters as well as the public - their masters being Wall Street
and the investment banks and their ilk).

Sad.

[hughee99]

6. How would they go about that

even if they had the money? I'm just wondering, what power sources would you recommend based on your research?

[lapfog_1]

7. It's not the most efficient

but I'm looking at a simple system, generate electricity using
solar for the majority and existing hydroelectric. Use the
generated electricity to produce hydrogen by electrolysis of
water, then use the hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity
for the grid as needed. Only by products are heat and water.

Again, not the most efficient, but extremely regular and power is
on demand.

Not without some environmental impact, as we will need to cover
many sq miles of area with solar panels.

To be the most efficient, we should locate the solar generators
in area of maximum sunshine... although a distributed system of
solar power systems on rooftops is feasible as well.

I am still cranking through research on exactly how many gigawatt
hours are produced in the US, what the loss rate is, the efficiency
of solar panels, the efficiency of large PEM fuel cells, the
expected rate of replacement, losses due to the various stages
of power generation, and so far.

In addition, I'm also interested in producing sufficient hydrogen
in some form which can be easily transported and carried and used
by fuel cell vehicles by the same methods.

The reason to go solar now is that it's the easiest to understand,
we will likely end up there anyway, and it doesn't have the drawbacks
of other renewables, and we won't run out anytime soon.

[hughee99]

9. Any thoughts on Geothermal energy?

I always thought that using the internal heat of the earth might be a more efficient and reliable alternative to solar, although it would not be nearly as on demand and portable as solar. I am also a big fan of hydrogen fuel cells, so I definately see where you're going.

[dArKeR]

2. World Military Spending Soars

Worldwide military spending rose by 11 percent in 2003, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said Wednesday, citing the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq as the main cause.

According to the Stockholm-based think tank, military spending rose to $956 billion, which the group called a "remarkable increase."

"It's very close to the Cold War peak in 1987," said SIPRI researcher Elisabeth Skoens, who co-authored the annual report.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/09/world/main622012.shtml

[whosinpower]

3. All according to plan

It is all part of the plan - and the military/industrial complex is happy with all the growth they are experiencing.
For my part - it is sickening and is a gross symptom of global decay.

[Bandit]

4. What do you mean by equal

1. $1 dollar invested into the Mililtary Industrial Complex is equal to $2-3 dollars invested in the private sector. (Look in any Economics text book.)

How is one dollar equal to three dollars? Equal in what way? Less jobs created, less tax revenue created, most Companies in the Military Industrial Complex are based off shore so they pay no taxes. Please explain equal.

[dArKeR]

8. For example compare to odds of a bet at a casino. You bet $1

and you get a return of 1$ or you bet $1 and get a return of $3.

I went to a 'Liberal' Catholic college and it was right there in the text. I can't remember the exact details if they referenced GNP but the overall meaning was straight forward.

I also clearly remember another point on 'dead end' goods. Good, such as nuclear bombs which provide no 'use' to the economy. Compared to using that money to build a highway system or bullet trains. Our teachers obviously made the point of security but from a purely Economics point they showed us goods which cost a whole lot of money which will eventually cost a whole lot of money to get rid of.

[struggle4progress]

5. kick

:kick: