Are the Afghanistan and Iraq occupations worse than Vietnam?

[unhappycamper]

During the Vietnam adventure we had lights in our cities, paved roads, teachers, firemen and a strong middle class. Today the lights are going our in our cities, states are unpaving roads, the government is attempting to privatize schools and the middle class is rapidly becoming obsolete. Our retirements savings are going to the big guys at the Wall Street Casino and the military industrial complex.

During the Vietnam adventure the Federal government paid unemployment compensation, gave money to cities and towns, maintained the civil infrastructure and kept the military industrial complex humming. Today our infrastructure is falling apart, government assistance to cities and towns is on the decline and global warming is rearing its ugly head. Today's Republicans routinely block any assistance or programs targeted to 'We the People'.

During the Vietnam adventure the top Federal tax rate was 60% and the Capital Gains tax rate was 36.5%. Today the top Federal tax rate is 35% and the Capital Gains tax rate is 20%. The big guys got multi-year 'Death Tax' and income exemptions.

I think these two adventures are going to bring down the United States economy. :(

[saigon68]

1. Much worse

[DonCoquixote]

2. Sadly, yes

Because the MIC was not as deeply embedded as it is now. If we had Fox News during Vietnam, it would probably be our colony today, give or take a nuke.

[NNN0LHI]

3. All our factories were running full output back then

Those jobs have all been sent overseas now.

The workers who build that imported stuff don't pay into our tax or retirement systems. They pay into their own systems.

Hence, there is no money to keep SS solvent and pay our government workers any more.

And Americans are buying more imports than ever.

I bet there is a connection there.

Don

[Bandit]

4. It can't all be blamed on the military

The Tax Cuts added a trillion to our debt and the no bid contracts that go out in all areas add almost as much and as the Debt rises so do the Interest payments which almost equal right now what we spend on Defense and just think what will happen when rates go up. This is the Republican Dream coming true..They have done their job extremely well and America will suffer for decades yet to come..