Around 17% of the budget is spent on the military.  People linking sources without citations, and ignoring facts that can be verified with a quick google search are part of the problem.  They think they're informed, repeat falsehoods, and never acknowledge they were wrong, let alone try to improve.  This is why we can't have meaningful dialogue, when people are allowed to repeat absolute falsehoods.

The defense budget passed in late 2019 was for 686 billion.  The budget was for 3.8 Trillion.  You can do the math your self.

I posted this on facebook earlier in the week, and thought it was applicable here too:

So, I had some thoughts I wanted to share related to Trump removing protesters from the White House area.  If that’s not your thing, or you couldn’t care less what I think, keep scrolling. My news feed has recently been filled with Dodo videos of abandoned animals being rescued, and I find them adorable, so please check that out.

On Topic:  I think this event is something every American should consider.  I’m not going to address George Floyd or the activities of the protest other than to establish them as an obvious backdrop to what occurred Monday.  What happened was wrong, and I fully support all 4 officers being charged with or as accessories to 2nd degree murder.  So, let’s establish exactly what happened.  American citizens were exercising their 1st Amendment rights in the vicinity around the White House.  I can’t think of anything more symbolic and representative of the 1st Amendment, than screaming “FUCK YOU” at the gate of the White House.  Try that in Beijing, Tehran, Moscow and even some European countries, and you won’t be happy with the results.  A lot of people are paying lip service to 1st Amendment, but I honestly believe in what it represents, and specifically what it says.  I don’t believe in “Hate Speech” laws, or even the concept of hate speech. The concept of free expression isn’t compatible with subjective limits.  Libel and slander notwithstanding, it’s free game.  Just don’t expect immunity from ridicule and condemnation – no one is obligated to be nice to you.

People exercising their 1st Amendment right were forcefully removed from the White House area so that President Trump could walk to a photo opportunity.  That’s what it was - a photo opportunity.  I’ve heard that narrative that Trump was showing force to prevent future riot like behavior, but he didn’t clear the protesters at that moment to prevent property damage or ensure the integrity of the White House.  He cleared them because there was no way for the President of the United States to safely walk outside with thousands of people in throwing distance.  He chose to end the most sacred American right of hundreds if not thousands of peaceful protesters, so he could walk safely and appear tough on television.  That’s what happened, and no amount of spin changes that reality.

Reports in the media differ on level of force, but everyone seems to agree that flash bangs and smoke grenades were used.  Even if the claims of rubber bullets and tear gas are true, it doesn’t change the underlying reality that the President of the United States used force to end a Constitutionally protected right.  Nothing you can say about the nature of some of the protesters negates that the President ended a lawful protest so he could appear strong in front of his supporters, because dickheads in the media found it funny the President went to the panic room when hundreds of people violently tried to storm the White House.  If he stood in the Rose Garden with an M-16, the same talking heads would have criticized him.  Trump violated the 1st Amendment rights of hundreds of Americans so he could smirk at Anderson Cooper. 

Those already Anti-Trump agree with me, or like that a “Republican” is publicly condemning Trump.  But this is for those of you trying to perform the mental gymnastics to justify Trump’s actions.  To that I ask you to engage in a mental exercise with me.  Imagine it’s March 2021, and Biden is the President.  Democrats have taken the Senate, and the first thing the Democratic congress and President do is pass a sweeping assault weapons ban.  You can fill in the details, but anything would piss you off, so be creative.  Thousands of peaceful 2nd Amendment activist storm the National Mall.  Hundreds gather outside the White House with AR-15s slung over their backs as is often the case.  It’s made clear that no violence is allowed, but you’re here to make it known that you find this new law an affront to the Constitution, and you’re angry and want change.  We’ll even grant that no single person out of thousands does anything inappropriate.  Though if 15 idiots smacked up someone, I’m sure you wouldn’t find their actions representative of you and the movement.  You’d probably even advocate that they be punished for their actions.  But despite the peaceful protest, President Biden marches from the West Wing to show that he understands many Americans are lawful gun owners, but he won’t be surrounded by armed hostiles and wants to really stick it to Sean Hannity on prime time. AG Harris orders the secret service and FBI to launch flash bangs and smoke grenades into the crowd to clear a path.  Alex Jones and Twitter are full of reports of tear gas and rubber bullets. 

What would the NRA and Fox News say?  For folks that carry a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, I can’t imagine such actions being received well.  So, if in this mental exercise you find yourself living out your fantasies of Red Dawn or Rambo, you must reconcile that to what happened Monday.  At least acknowledge it. 

If you have information that is superior to mine, please share.  But I ask that you attempt to justify the President of the United States intentionally violating the 1st Amendment right of American citizens.  And in the future when you accuse someone of violating the Constitution, remember what occurred on June 1st, 2020 and your feelings about that.

Nah, the utter disappearance of the anti-war movement the moment Obama was sworn in negates that.  It's the American media, they control the narrative.  They just had Al Sharpton in syndication, and want to pretend they're objective purveyors of information.

It amazes me that one of the most racist and despicable men in American race relations, is somehow allowed to continue to speak as some authority figure in civil rights.  The man is a blatant anti-Semite and has supported rioting and harm to Jews in New York.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Heights_riot
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/ … r-justice/

He's one of the primary reasons I chuckle when the far left postures standing next to him, claiming some moral authority over discussions and opinions regarding racial inequity in the US.