As Wisconsin-type protests are threatening to break out all over the USA ‘ and regular people are taking huge hits because, as we are being constantly told, “our country is broke” ‘ many are becoming concerned that money spent on our military is money denied other needs in our society. And that comes with a human cost. Reading in The Atlantic, March 15 issue, about how the USA plans to spend $900 billion to buy and operate a fleet of 2,400 new F-35 fighter jets ‘ and then hearing how our country has no money for public-employee benefits, schools, parks, and so on ‘ got me going. (I completely support the USA having the military wherewithal to take swift and decisive action when necessary, and I support our support of the rebels in Libya. But the time has come when the domestic cost of our military budget needs to be considered.)
People in Minnesota are taking action. At breakfast in Minneapolis last week, a friend of mine shared a resolution Minnesotans are giving to their state legislature in hopes of balancing their state budget not by stripping away services to poor and middle-class people, but by reconsidering our military budget. Like many good ideas, it’s courageous but (sadly) probably futile. Still, these numbers are hard to refute. Here’s the resolution:
Whereas Minnesota is faced with a $5 billion budget shortfall; and,
Whereas past budget cuts have resulted in painful reductions in essential services and future cuts would further erode the quality of life for and, in fact, endanger the lives of many citizens; and,
Whereas many cities and communities in Minnesota are laying off police, firefighters, teachers and other essential employees; and,
Whereas past budgets have been balanced by cutting social services, under investment in essential infrastructure, and other measures that push the crisis onto local governments and the poor; and,
Whereas Minnesota taxpayers even during these times of economic crisis and fiscal austerity are poised to pay approximately $26 billion over the next two years for their share of the Defense Budget of the Federal government; and,
Whereas Minnesota taxpayers alone have already spent more than $27.5 billion, and will spend $8.4 billion more over the next two years for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; and,
Whereas 58 cents of every dollar of federal discretionary spending is devoted to military purposes; and,
Whereas military spending priorities at the national level negatively impact budgets and quality of life at all levels of government and society; and,
Whereas our nation desperately needs to better balance its approach to security to go beyond military defense and include the economic, social, and environmental needs of our communities, state, and nation;
Therefore be it resolved that we call on Senators Klobuchar and Franken, and Representatives Walz, Kline, Paulsen, McCollum, Ellison, Bachman, Peterson and Cravaack as well as President Barack Obama, to shift federal funding priorities from war and the interests of the few, to meeting the essential needs of us all.
All statistics are available from the National Priorities Project.
Imagine the impact of US military expenditures on your state’s budget. Maybe you’ve fantasized about winning the lottery. You could do the same for your state if somehow our country (which spends as much as the rest of the planet combined on weapons) became only modestly militaristic and hammered a few extra swords into plowshares.
Talking about the dollars wasted on the military incenses many good security-minded Americans. But I believe the irony of our age is that our military itself ‘ because of the way it bleeds us economically and frays the fabric of our society ‘ is actually becoming a threat to our national security. Yes, that’s irony. What is it about the sacred cow of military spending in today’s USA? Thoughts?
In the picture alongside this article, the one in which you are holding a sheaf of papers and laughing, are you drinking beer from a wine glass? Huh? And I thought I was a cretin from middle America!
Posted by: Joe – Mar 31, 2011 2:55 PM
@Joe. Are you kidding? Are you really making fun of Rick for drinking beer out of a “wine” glass? Anyone who knows anything about beer knows that there are many different styles of glasses for different styles of beer. You can learn more at Beeradvocate’s website. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/101/glassware And don’t you have anything better to do than make fun of Rick’s glassware? You sound like a high school bully. Time to grow up, my friend.
Posted by: Alicia – Mar 31, 2011 3:30 PM
Thing is, we are vastly over estimating our potential enemies in the near future.. and the bulk of our militaries building projects could likely be stretched out over a much longer space of time. They don’t all have to be 10 or 20 year projects. I support fully the Linear Railguns that the Navy Wants.. I’m sure we need SOME F-35 and F-22 fighters, but what we desperately need are new mid-air refueling systems and the solid state laser systems which will render those dreaded Sunburn missiles obsolete. That said, I don’t support the rebels in Libya. I don’t support any of the revolts in the middle east. If it takes them living under some dictators jackbooted heal to keep me safe. So be it. I’m sick of America and the west in general involving ourselves in other peoples problems. I think its a waste of our treasure and our lives and quite frankly I just don’t have much sympathy for them. Every time we do it we wind up like Daniel and Peachey and yet we never learn.
Posted by: anonymous – Mar 31, 2011 3:32 PM
Rick, Great post. But you fail to focus on the real source of our budget woes. Consider, for example, that the affluent, during the New Deal, paid upwards of 90% income tax[INVALID]while today some corporations worth billions of dollars (like GE) manage to pay NO tax whatsoever. And tax rates of the affluent are lower than they’ve been in decades. http://www.quickanded.com/2010/02/effective-tax-rates-of-the-richest-400-americans.html We need to reframe the conversation from one about the expense side of our governments’ ledger to one about the REVENUE side of the ledger. As long as the wealthy are able to reap the benefits of living in this country, they ought also to share in the burdens. It is long past time for a paradigm shift.
Posted by: ChrisH – Mar 31, 2011 3:51 PM
Wow, I come to a travel site about Europe and get the author’s lefty ramblings about US domestic politics. Lost focus, much? I guess I won’t be buying any of your travel products, ever. How am I to know when you’re going to abandon travel topics (which people say you are good at) for politics/economics (not so much)? I’ll stick with travel sources that can stay on topic.
Posted by: PubliusTX – Mar 31, 2011 3:59 PM
Anyone who is mad at Rick for talking about politics on his blog, should read his intro first. It reads, “I’m sharing my travel experiences, candid opinions and what’s on my mind. If you think it’s inappropriate for a travel writer to stir up discussion on his blog with political observations and insights gained from traveling abroad, you may not want to read any further.” If you don’t like reading Rick’s thoughts, why not stick to the non-political sections of his website like “Plan Your Trip”?
Posted by: Sally – Mar 31, 2011 4:10 PM
Qhadafi is no different than Saddam. And I for one am tired of us sticking our neck out for them only to be told how evil we are. Screw em pull everyone out keep our defenses up to date and enough equipment to keep our nation safe. Reinvest the rest into our infrastructure. New urbanism, alternative energy, better transportation, schools and technology. Let the middle east fend for themselves they can’t stand us anyways. I lost sympathy for them years ago, my main concern is the US and it’s citizens. Don’t tell me France, Germany, or any other nation isn’t making their citizens first priority. We have more than enough issues to deal with here at home. We have homeless and starving right here do we really need to go looking for more.
Posted by: T – Mar 31, 2011 4:16 PM
I think we must continue to ask ourselves just who writes these blogs. Does the person want to preach to the choir and/or reinforce his or her own beliefs? Does the blog writer job get rotated to folks auditioning for induction into an RS Club? Does RS himself write these to provoke or, better still, learn what others think? Is the question really as it’s posed – or is it really a different question? How can we prevent cuts to NPR/PBS? There are facts and there are facts. Defense spending has been and will continue to be a major outlay. Why? Because Lockheed, Boeing, General Dynamics, US Defense Dept and myriad others employ millions of workers. Because we export billions in weapons. Because the US without a war or 2 or 3 would have no distractions for politicians trying to deflect attention from their own inadequacies. If ETBD wants to convince govt. and us not to cut funds for PBS and NPR I can think of better ways to be persuasive. Put a check off block on the tax return to protect it. I’d contribute.
Posted by: bill – Mar 31, 2011 4:25 PM
I think a checkoff block on the 1040 would be a great way to fund PBS/NPR. I tend to donate to all the things on that anyway.. most of them are a 1$.. thats not much to me.. but if even a quarter of taxpayers check the box.. thats considerable.
Posted by: anonymous – Mar 31, 2011 4:35 PM
Is a non-American allowed to comment? The USA spends more money on its military than the rest of the world combined and you are bankrupting yourselves. You have an empire of +700 military bases around the world. At the same time places like Detroit are dying. Victims of Hurricane Katrina are probably still suffering. Does nobody see a connection? President Eisenhower’s warning about the military industrial complex taking over the USA have gone unheeded. I have great respect for the United States, but something has to give. I fear that when it does, it will not be pretty.
Posted by: canuck55 – Mar 31, 2011 8:27 PM
I guess it it too much to keep our soldiers safe. And just think they may not even get paid next month because a budget has not been passed.
Posted by: C – Mar 31, 2011 10:51 PM
Very good post and interesting comments, up to this point. I have wondered as canuck55 points out, why US citizens finds it necessary to spend more money on defence then the rest of the world combined spends on defence? Also, @C-if the budget doesn’t pass do the politicians get paid? If we don’t help others get what we have, we have lost our moral compass. If we don’t help our own we have lost that compass too. That creates a fine line to walk. If the French hadn’t helped the colonies, possibly we would be speaking British English today and not our American English.
Posted by: Henry – Apr 01, 2011 12:52 AM
Of course the politicians will get paid. They will always it is the “little people” that always suffer.
Posted by: C – Apr 01, 2011 2:29 AM
I predicted (to myself) years ago that the U.S. would break up within 100 years. First state to leave the Union? Could be South Carolina again. Or maybe a Minnesota or Wisconsin. But I think I’ll put my money on Hawaii; they’ve already got an independence movement.
Posted by: Jeff – Apr 01, 2011 3:31 AM
Let’s ask Eastern Europe what they think about the USA’s military budget. As far as Canada is concerned does anyone think they could put up a defence against any aggressor? My bet on first state to leave the Union would be Texas.
Posted by: KenK – Apr 01, 2011 4:39 AM
Coming from the state of california, we are dealing with a double wammy here. We will be lucky if kids here have a public school to go to next year. The organization like flying doctors that use to go around the world to give medical care now spend 60% of their time in the US. They are here in Sacramento trying to treat as many people as they can this weekend. I am not as some would say “a bleeding heart”, BUT, we have the best medical care and technology in the world and our own citizen cant have access to it. And this is getting worse. Why don’t we want our children and every US child to have the best education. It always seems to be “someone elses’s problems”. We have this conversation in our family all the time and cannot figure it out, some of the entries on the blog just confuse me! This is a great country there has to be some good that our citizens can do beside complain and dismantle. We provided our kids with a good middle class college education and they struggle to keep it together. I wonder what the headlines with be in 30-40 years when they “try” to retire and have nothing because health care, gas, food has bankrupt them.
Posted by: Judy – Apr 01, 2011 5:52 AM
we don’t spend too much on defense. we spend too much on offense. we spend too much money pointlessly excercising the military in ways that aren’t defense, but offense. that’s the problem.
Posted by: Matthew – Apr 01, 2011 7:53 AM
Rick is doing a great service for America by promoting tours in countries and cites that do not have much contact with the American people. Touring is a great way to break down the propaganda. I hope Rick begins tours of Asia. His show on Iran was beautifully done and opened many to a wonderful culture and its people. We have to separate politicians and politics from a culture and its people when we can. Or at least we need to try to look behind the propaganda curtains put up to cloud our thinking. Rick does this on every show. keep up the good work.
Posted by: Peter Saunders – Apr 01, 2011 9:12 AM
I was listening to a Phil Ochs CD the other day. Anyone ever hear of/remember him? His anti-Viet Nam war songs are as relevant today as they were in the 60s. We (the U.S.) are truly the cops of the world, with more than enough firepower to destroy it many times over. Moreover, we are so evenly divided as a country over so many issues, that the next civil war may be here. Chilling thought – red state vs. blue state; conservatives vs. liberals; Bill Maher vs. Glenn Beck. Yikes!
Posted by: Depressed – Apr 01, 2011 10:38 AM
Good post Judy, I agree. I actually lived in San Jose Ca. and moved to SC 8 years ago, after I became tired of commuting 2 and a half hours into work. Just so I could afford housing. For all that people say about SC, they couldn’t be more wrong. My kids are getting a wonderful education. SC has some wonderful programs ie. arts, music, technology that were’nt available in Ca. SC while “conservative,” just isn’t, yes we lean more to the right but there are a healthy amount of liberals also. We have also had a large influx of northerns relocating to SC mostly from New Jersey. We have companies such as Michelin, BMW, GE. So we have a large international community as well. But what I love most about my new home is that close nit community feeling that seems to be lost in other states. People are kind and courteous to one another and I’ve seen more racism in Ca. than in SC. I recently took a German Language course and our teacher who is from Munchen, was telling us about the education system in Germany. It sounded very interesting and would recommend that others look into it. Apparently around middle/high school kids can enter a technical program if they have no intentions of pursuing higher education. Ie. if the parents owned an auto repair business and the child is planning on pursuing the same. They would switch to a trade style school. If someone has more information or where to find it please post. I feel as though I am not doing it justice lol.
Posted by: Sc – Apr 01, 2011 10:59 AM
P.S. Maybe we should travel to other states and get to know each other a little better before traveling abroad. This may repair The Great Schism currently gripping this country.
Posted by: SC – Apr 01, 2011 11:03 AM
SC…… you make a good point about kids having the option of moving to technical training vs. higher education. We in the US need to get off the “everyone should go to college” train, and realize that many just aren’t cut out for it. The additional benefit is that we end up with highly trained labor pool of people who actually know how to make something. The maybe we can reignite some manufacturing in this country! As an aside, I’d like to point out the absurdity of this post. Those who ‘understand the Constitution, know that it is the Federal governments responsibility to protect the country (i.e. making the Military a Constitutional priority) …. NOT give out all the ‘free stuff’ that Rick and others so passionately advocate. Again, a clear illustration of how far we’ve strayed from the intentions of the Founders.
Posted by: Wake up people! – Apr 01, 2011 12:55 PM
@Matthew-good point, I hadn’t thought of that idea before. @SC-also, good points especially about travel to get to know each other a little better. I believe many European countries provide school until the student is 19 and has something like an AA degree level education. Then the student can enter a vocational training program for students who don’t want or need the academic college program. Not everyone needs the US style college program as vocational training should provide a good career future in a trade or service industry.
Posted by: Henry – Apr 01, 2011 1:07 PM
As the Founding Fathers were members of the Age of Enlightenment and followed that train of thinking. They were very different thinkers then what many Americans believe these founders would do today. Very interesting reading about the arguments that went on between Jefferson, Hamilton, Adams, Franklin and the others. I do believe they would not have such a large standing military or government debt for that matter. They did feel the need for government to help the citizens when necessary. Oh well, we will never know what they would do with this world will we.
Posted by: Henry – Apr 01, 2011 1:23 PM
Agreed…. we will never know what they’d think of this world. However, for those who believe in a ‘living Constitution’ the Founders actually GAVE us one and a process by which it could be altered i.e. the Constitutional Amendment Process! Unfortunately, because so many ideas and ‘theories’ of (let me use a nice word here) ‘Progressives’ would NEVER have enough support to be made law through the Constitutional Amendment Process, they resort to either the appointment of activist judges who ‘interpret’ laws in their favor OR they simply ‘ignore’ the constitutionality of the laws they pass, as many legislators have recently acknowledged! For those who believe the Amendment Process is too restrictive, I say…. change it!…… through the Constitutional Amendment Process!
Posted by: Wake up people! – Apr 01, 2011 4:37 PM
Why does it seem so many self described conservatives only see “activist judges” as coming from the left side of the political spectrum? All they have to do, if they want to be honest about it, is look at the Citizens United decision. Where in the U.S. Constitution does it state corporations have the rights of persons? A corporation is a creation of law, and was only given the rights of persons by an activist Supreme Court of the United States. No amendment to the Constituion gave corporations these rights. So much for the current SCOTUS following “original intent;” they only use the term as a rallying cry and to cover their backsides.
Posted by: Nels – Apr 01, 2011 7:31 PM
Nels…… I couldn’t agree with you more re: the Constitution giving corporations (and Unions for that matter) the rights of citizens. It’s pure BS! Groups are NOT individuals! However, I must say that in ‘most’ instances, activist judges DO tend to be leftward leaning.
Posted by: Wake up people! – Apr 01, 2011 9:06 PM
I was not happy about our hitting Libya. We can’t afford it, it is that simple. The Europeans get their oil from this country, let them handle this. Let Europe defend itself. Except for the Brits we have been defending these freeloaders for over 60 years. No wonder they have free health care. Why do we have military bases in Germany, who’s going to attack us the Bavarians?
Posted by: JS – Apr 02, 2011 8:16 AM
THANK YOU Rick, for this important post. This country could choose to become a vibrant, economically healthy country once again, as in the post-WWII period up to the 1970’s. Or we could choose to go the way of the Romans, constantly engaged in warfare, in our case to “defend” the interests of big corporations (i.e., Big Oil). Read Robert Reich’s new book “Aftershock: the next economy and America’s future” for a more in-depth exploration of what’s really going on in this country.
Posted by: Reza – Apr 02, 2011 9:42 AM
Hey Rick, and others interested. Here’s a great article about budget cuts to programs for the poor. I wonder if people think Mark Bittman should shut up about politics and stick to food writing? http://bittman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/30/more-on-budget-cuts-hunger-and-poverty/
Posted by: Megan – Apr 02, 2011 12:06 PM
Wow! There can be common ground. Now if only the politicians would apply some consistent logic and try to reach some common ground instead of employing a strategy of division> All the politicians seem to is get the public to fight among themselves.
Posted by: Nels – Apr 02, 2011 9:22 PM
Why target just the military budget? EVERY budget has items that are just not needed – or benefit a few. But we also need to look at SSA long term and Health Care AFFORDABILITY. Rick, great travel guides, love your TV and radio programs, fantastic luggage. Why not put your political opinions on another site?
Posted by: Bill – Apr 03, 2011 4:16 AM
Bill, Rick did have a second blog, Travel as a Political Act, for the comments not directed purely to tours, travel, books, etc. After a bit, he merged it back into the original blog.
Posted by: louisa – Apr 03, 2011 10:58 AM
Well he doesn’t have it anymore. On the home page right hand side it says “Travel Blogs” then links here. Here it says “Blog Gone Europe” and then the disclaimer underneath. So don’t get pissy if we seem a little confused by the labeling. But I’m sure you’ll come running to his defense cause he can do no wrong, no matter how bass ackwards it is.
Posted by: IO – Apr 03, 2011 2:38 PM
Among other things, if the US military went back to doing all its own Cooking, Cleaning, Building, Shipping, and Logistics stuff, and quit outsourcing it to companies with virtually open contracts.. it would save a considerable amount of money. I’ve heard horror stories of sackloads of laundry costing as much as 200$, and 80$ cases of 20oz cokes being charged to the US taxpayer.. by these contractors… you can’t tell me there thats economical. But as always, if any cuts are to be made to the Military, it will come from such items as Body Armour for the troops, or the V.A. hospitol, just as it always has before. Another thing to control costs would be to crackdown severely on Medicare/Medicaid/social security/disability Fraud.. My mom is a diabetic, and is on Medicaid, her medicaid approved supplier routinely sends her unsolicited supplies. Testing Strips, Meters, Lancets.. all of that charged to Medicaid. Someone, somewhere is getting rich bilking these government programs of money. Basically, our government is quickly becoming full of graft and corruption because we are allowing private enterprises to dictate terms and handle stuff they have no business being involved with. They are doing it through lobbyists, lawyers, judges, and anyone else who isn’t afraid to trade favors for a weekend in the Hamptons and free usage of a company jet from time to time.
Posted by: anonymous – Apr 03, 2011 5:48 PM
The Lunatic Left loves to denigrate the military. Never mind the fact that they are only able to be so bombastic because of the military. The military is the favored whipping boy of the left until they are in a position to use the same military for their political desires such as our Incompetent-in-Chief is now doing in Libya.
Posted by: IKE – Apr 04, 2011 4:12 AM
IO, I said he merged it back into the original blog. So, yes, he doesn’t have it anymore as a stand-alone blog. Got it?
Posted by: louisa – Apr 04, 2011 8:58 AM
Rick, time for a reality check. Even if we instantly abolished the entire Department of Defense, including medical care and retiree pensions, the federal government would still have a deficit of nearly $ 1 Trillion this year. And that doesn’t even count the staggering government debt levels of our states and municipalities. Food for thought before you start spending your peace dividend.
Posted by: Stimpy – Apr 04, 2011 9:33 AM
This blog is a great example of why the US will never reach bipartisan solutions to difficult problems. Rather than acknowledge that the department of defense IS ALSO getting it’s funding cut, in the forms of future weapons systems canceled, force levels downsized, maintenance delayed, infrastructure closed, and many other cuts, let’s just make it an “all or nothing”, “us versus them argument”. I admit, I don’t know exactly what needs to be cut from federal spending, but I know a lot needs to go across the board… unless we want to see US treasury bond ratings tank. See how hard it will be to fund anything at all once the Chinese stop buying our T-bills and keeping their cash reserves in dollars. This would be a great time to pull together as a nation and have an honest discussion of what we want versus what we can afford. Nah, screw it, let’s just demand that the other guy loose their funding. Hell, I live in Europe now, why should I even care anymore? Mr. Steves, I would expect better from you.
Posted by: Tom – Apr 04, 2011 1:04 PM
Steves probably, proportionately, provokes more discourse than does Fox News or CNN – but among a tiny segment of society – sort of like pushing on a [INVALID] But open, honest, balanced debate has to begin somewhere and one does what one has to in order to float ones’ own boat. I really wish I had the answer. That is, alternative considerations for those people who have already and rigidly made up their minds.
Posted by: billkester – Apr 04, 2011 2:25 PM
NOT ENOUGH INFO. There’s simply not enough info, in both cases, to either 1) support the rebels, or 2) know that the military budget can be reduced. We know we don’t like Gaddafi, and we know killing innocent protesters is evil, but we really don’t know anything about these rebels. We can’t support them, we can only support not killing civilians at this point, hence the no-fly zone measure. We know military spending is higher than ever, but how do you know it’s not justified for the job it needs to do? Where should the cuts be made exactly? Based on what info about anticipating current and future threats? Some clarification. Of the total budget, 43% is spent on social security, medicare, medicaid while the military is just 20%. It’s a big expenditure, but it’s the only thing securing our freedom and way of life. And when you look at how much is spent on the welfare of our citizens, we’re not exactly ignoring them.
Posted by: Steevn – Apr 04, 2011 4:26 PM
Oh I have it, not sure you do. Because he was voicing his opinion that the political blog should be separate. So the fact that it was separate before is pointless. Got it?!? Next you’re going to tell me if I don’t like it to go somewhere else.
Posted by: IO – Apr 04, 2011 5:28 PM
Right on Rick. Thanks for your courage in posting a political commentary that some might take issue with. You are a rare and valuable commodity. Unless this American society finds the will to redistribute the wealth from the top 2% to the bottom 25%, it may find itself in another upheaval. Let’s hope there are leaders and politicians with sufficient perspective to rethink progressive tax rates like most other Western civilizations have adopted. Love your informative and entertaining travel books. How about Bulgaria next? I spent two weeks there in February…interesting place.
Posted by: Gary – Apr 04, 2011 7:06 PM
What I was trying to clarify is that Rick tried a separate blog for political comments, didn’t want to continue it for whatever reason, so why should he try it again? Please don’t go away. We all need to read everyone’s point of view, don’t you think?
Posted by: louisa – Apr 05, 2011 7:33 AM
I don’t agree with all of Rick’s political views, but I’m just glad he’s not blogging about Charlie Sheen and Lindsay Lohan. At least he’s talking about real issues and getting us to do some actual thinking, even though we may not all agree with each other.
Posted by: Catherine – Apr 05, 2011 8:49 AM
It’s easy for you to understand the merging of Rick’s blog most likely because you agree with him, and that’s ok. But some people come here looking soley for info on Europe. Ricks has MANY non-travel views, which I can wholeheartedly agree with Catherine are much more thought provoking. Things from legalization of marijuana to abused women(which Rick has selflessly aided and would love to hear more on this topic). Some people feel that coming to this site should be about travel (agree or not) its their right. I would love to see Rick start a separate site focused on his personal view and have it plastered in HUGE letters on his home page. Then people could come for the travel and hope over for his views. Cause you know louisa as well as I do there is no way conservatives would not go to that site lol. Like a mosquito to a bug zapper. He could places links, photos, news about his various charities or groups. i think it would be brilliant. But people will feel that you are attacking them by pointing out the previous blog and then we lose more viewers; which is what none of us want. Best wishes :).
Posted by: IO – Apr 05, 2011 11:12 AM
IO, my favorite news sources are The Weekly Standard and The National Review. You can’t get much more conservative than that. I don’t agree with Rick most of the time, but I do value hearing what everyone is thinking. Contrary views have no power to harm and can be enlightening. I also do not attack anyone, and if I felt I was perceived as attacking, I would apologize at once. I agree that this blog should be centered on travel, but it’s not my blog. All the best to everyone, whatever their views.
Posted by: louisa – Apr 05, 2011 2:46 PM
very true louisa this isn’t our blog and Rick can post as he likes. You are right hearing others views is very important. If I came off as labeling you as a liberal or other I’m sorry not my intent. I too don’t always agree and am a Moderate. I do like to see Rick’s non-travel side, personally separate from travel is all. That’s just my opinion. And I didn’t think you needed to apologize. But that was very kind of you.
Posted by: IO – Apr 05, 2011 4:24 PM
Rick can blog about anything he wants, and the readers interested in travel can skip his post and go directly to his rich and very helpful travel content. Please don’t waste his time – he’s going to read all that ramblings from both sides :). Can’t resist though… I’ve experience socialism first-hand wasting half of my life in the USSR, and I can tell you – it stinks big time. Wealth redistribution and nothing else behind all these lovely speeches about “poor”. Gary, my friend – these 2% you want to rob are the productive force of society, any society. 25% will spend stolen wealth, and the next step is rationing of food, gas, medicine, etc. And, the most important – who’s going to distribute this wealth? Congratulations! We’re back in the USSR with its enormous army of commissars, redistribution czars, and parasites. OK, time to plan my Italian (not Russian) vacations.
Posted by: ZL – Apr 05, 2011 6:06 PM
Once Rick starts traveling again, his blog will be overflowing with travel related updates. Just sit tight, everyone. I may not always agree with Rick’s politics, or even want to read about politics, but at least it’s an opportunity for others who want to to discuss it and have a forum. In a crowded house, we don’t always get to have control of the tv remote, so in the same way, try to be understanding of others desires here. If you need to complain, be polite about it. We can build a diverse, fun, open, interesting family here if we each do our part.
Posted by: Steevn – Apr 05, 2011 6:42 PM
I have been following this blog since the beginning and the funny thing is when he is traveling and talks about travel he get maybe 10 responses, he gets 50 when he talks about anything else. The majority likes the conflict.
Posted by: Judy – Apr 05, 2011 7:49 PM
Thanks to all for making this a very interesting discussion. Louisa, IO, Judy, TexasThankYou (on another topic) and many others all have a point of view and opinion which makes for interesting reading. Travel and politics great topics with many points of view. Happy Travels.
Posted by: Henry – Apr 06, 2011 12:07 AM
Rick, you are right on the mark. If this country is to maintain even fraction of the prosperity to which we have become accustomed, our military needs to be cut. I think it should be drastically reduced to less than 20% of current spending. The USA spends way more than the rest of the world combined on it’s military, and creates thousands of 40 year old retirees every year while the rest of us have to work for more than twice as long to get social security and protection from financial ruin by the medical industrial complex. I am a Vietnam veteran (Danang ’71-72) and a U.S. taxpayer for more than 40 years. I don’t want to live in a militant, third world republican theocracy, and hope to retire to Italy.
Posted by: FrankM – Apr 06, 2011 8:07 AM
I wish we could dispense with the idea that “travel writers shouldn’t have political opinions.” The essence of travel is experiencing different ways of doing things, including politics. It is very much in Rick’s job description to apply what he learns in Europe to the US political scene (as he also does with, say, food, culture, music, and so on). Anyone who thinks “sticking to travel” means being totally apolitical isn’t a very good traveler.
Posted by: CH – Apr 06, 2011 9:41 AM
I don’t believe anyone is saying that he shouldn’t have political opinions. I believe some would rather read about the other aspects, more than the political. And some love the political side. Is it wrong for someone to want to travel purely for the art? Or vice verse, solely for politics? I think 99.9 of the readers here would say no and I would agree with them. But let me ask a questions. Do Europeans, only, support liberal ideals? Or are there a range of different views? The fact is Rick doesn’t give us a summary of all views, he tends to focus mainly on those that gel with his own. His site his choice (I completely understand). But I’m trying to give some insight on why people feel the opposite, whether you agree or not. I am also not saying that he “never” shows opposing views, I’m just saying it is lopsided. You don’t want to hear only about modern and impressionist art you’d like a little Renaissance thrown in too. Just my opinioin. I need to have Louisa start proof reading these to make sure I’m not to far off base.( She’s usually right and helps keep me grounded lol :) )
Posted by: IO – Apr 06, 2011 12:25 PM
IO: thanks for the compliment. I have come to appreciate your viewpoint, as well as those of others. We can always learn. I think that Naziism and Fascism show us that Europeans have not always supported liberal ideals, I have one question. Have you traveled a little, some, a lot, or lived for any length of time anywhere in Europe? That information would be helpful in understanding where you stand.
Posted by: louisa – Apr 06, 2011 2:53 PM
Louisa and IO….. is ‘love’ in the air?
Posted by: Cupid – Apr 06, 2011 5:49 PM
I love it that Rick puts his politics on the Blog. The warning is there at the beginning of the Blog and I think people should take him at his word. Part of the reason I like that he does this, as he’s a business man and he’s decided that it’s okay to have progressive views and still make money. Conservative small business owners are rarely shy about sharing their perspective. They don’t do it through a blog, but you usually know where local business people stand. BTW I don’t think Rick has ever said that people shouldn’t enjoy themselves on European trips and he definitely goes to Europe to see the art. He’s just saying open your eyes and ears to what is going on around you and use it to expand your own understanding. That understanding will affect your political perspective one way or another. Pam
Posted by: Pam – Apr 06, 2011 7:17 PM
Yes I’ve traveled quite a bit. Some in the military and some personally. Most of my time was spent in Asia. Japan, Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, New Guinea, Australia, and Italy. Travel in the military was the most enjoyable. I was able to stay in one country for an extended period usually a month. We were also given the opportunity to volunteer to aid in local charities. For example in Thailand our Chaplin arranged for us to go and spend time at a Catholic Orphanage near Utapoa helping with repairs and playing soccer with the kids. Better than any museum or historical site. No love, but I have loads of respect for her. Just cause we don’t agree all the time doesn’t mean we can’t be civil. I do admire her passion though and that is envious. Yes Rick does promote art, culture, and community. I was just trying give a different perspective as to way some may not enjoy or agree with his blogs. We have around 20-40 average contributors to the blog(guesstimating). But 200-4000 would be better the more we reach the more the word spreads and sometimes you have to make sacrifices to reach the masses.
Posted by: IO – Apr 06, 2011 7:45 PM
I believe that Rick has a deep-seated need to be relevant. Maybe 30 years of traveling have left him bored, who knows. The thing that I find most annoying is when he tries to act as if all his traveling has made him more tolerant then everybody else. I’ve seen interviews where he’s been challenged on topics like legalization of drug use, and you can see his face start to distort before the questioner even gets the question out! Everybody has an opinion, has a right to be heard, but nobody’s view, even Rick’s, are better then anybody elses.
Posted by: jan – Apr 07, 2011 11:39 AM
Any discussion on cutting the budget should start with deciding on our priorities. Is it more important to have planes that cost billions of dollars, than to keep public schools open? Could the military make do with half the number of planes, and put that money toward health care for the poor, and teacher’s salaries? Our infrastructure is failing – all over the country. Should we wait until another bridge falls into a river with cars full of people, and then bemoan the fact that the bridge has been unsafe for years? If we truly focused on being less dependent on oil, and not just complaining every summer when prices go up, we could be developing lots of technology to find our way around the oil dependency that leads us into wars in oil producing countries. We don’t seem to be able to agree on the priorities Americans, and the future of the country. My priority is a healthy environment, stable economy, reasonable health care for all, and as safe a daily existence as possible. I have 3 members of my family who are in the military, so although I recognize the need for the military, I don’t think our troops need to die in other countries for the oil they provide, or the corporations who have financial interests there.
Posted by: Jeanne – Apr 07, 2011 3:33 PM
Jeanne have you ever wondered what happened to the almost $1 trillion Obama wasted as the STIMULUS? That would have replaced a great deal of infrastructure, but instead went to be laundered by unions to go back to the Demokrat Party. Far as oil goes ask Soros.
Posted by: Barry – Apr 07, 2011 5:33 PM
Does your figure of $1 Trillion include the approx. 40% of stimulus funds that were tax cuts?
Posted by: Nels – Apr 07, 2011 7:02 PM
http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/company_level_imports/current/import.html http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1948787,00.html We receive only a small amount of oil from Iraq. We profit more from those corporations ie Halliburton. I leave it at that. Just wanted to point some info on oil. Don’t want this to switch into a discussion on the war. I think the corporations are something to look into though. I know we have some Vietnam vets on here. I would love to hear their opinion on private companies building bases? And how many companies they had building during Vietnam.
Posted by: IO – Apr 07, 2011 9:13 PM
This is a ridiculous argument. This isnt about a budget shortfall it is about over spending. On what has America over spent? Entitlement programs. When 47% of the US doesnt pay federal income tax the rest of us have to pay for EVERYTHING for just about half the country. And that half of the country gets/wants/thinks they deserve something free. The sense of entitlement has destroyed America.
Posted by: Coach – Apr 08, 2011 4:59 PM
rick, don’t kid yourself. the disclaimer on the blog top does not allow you to share your federal government spending priorities. spare us the free advice thank you….
Posted by: chuck from new york – Apr 08, 2011 10:35 PM
Rick Steves=pebble in my 4″ heels Samantha Brown= my OR crocs
Posted by: AMEDDnurse – Apr 09, 2011 5:37 PM
It appears Rick you are only entitled to YOUR opinion on YOUR blog if it agees with the opinions of the right wing. The right wing politically correct crowd strikes again it seems.
Posted by: Mark – Apr 09, 2011 7:37 PM
Lets not lump the whole right wing in with that crowd. I know there are some conservative individuals on here that fully support Rick.
Posted by: IO – Apr 10, 2011 1:50 AM
Moi? Right wing? Contraire. As a social liberal, I’m a swing voter. However, I am still a bit miffed over Rick’s flag plucking incident that occurred in Edmonds, WA back around ’06 or so. Now a retired member of the military, I felt it was rather disrespectful for Rick to pull those flags, because members of the military follow orders-not make them, regardless of whoever the commander -in-chief (Bush then, Obama now) is at the time. The flags were put out to honor the men and women who put up their lives for the country and wish for their safe return, and also for those who are in a supporting role. He should have just left them alone, and/or not mentioned in the blog. Ignorance can be such bliss. As far as military spending goes, I feel Rick may be in the group that would rather see 2% of the budget go to the military rather than the current 20%. That would require sweeping changes in policies or an election of a Green party candidate-which I’m 90% willing to bet won’t happen for a long, long time- until global warming fries us? Even a withdrawal from Afghanistan and a BRAC (base reduction and closure) which occurred under Clinton would not reduce the budget THAT much. Whoever thinks a Green Party candidate can get elected has spent too much time in an Amsterdam cafe. However, since I use a variety of media & resources to plan my European travel, will probably still turn to Rick’s advice from time to time, because he is good at it.
Posted by: AMEDDnurse – Apr 10, 2011 7:20 PM
Just as there are conservatives here that fully support Rick, there are also liberals who actually served. I’m personally a little sick of a certain group of people equating “liberal” or “left-wing” or even “libtard” with anti-American or unpatriotic. Yeah, I served, and I also think the military is over-funded, improperly used, and too reliant on private open contracts. Last time I looked, the title is Department of “Defense” but lately it’s been acting like the name never changed from the War Department. Somebody needs reminded that the military is supposed to be subservient to civilian authority in this country. Let’s not get started on the issue of “lopsided” presentations of views either *cough* Fox News *cough* Glen Beck *cough* Sarah Palin *cough* Rush Limbaugh
Posted by: Chris – Apr 10, 2011 7:42 PM
I served also and I clearly remember digging through scrap metal bins with calipers ensuring parts were out of limits as not wasted. In the Marines we continued to use out dated field equipment. Nothing like sleeping under a leaky shelter half, but it happens. Overfunded? Maybe. But much of that funding isn’t reaching the troops and that’s a problem. Because I believe Rick is lopsided in representing European political views doesn’t mean I watch Fox. That’s some serious stereotyping and generalization, as a liberal I thought you believed in ending that type of behavior. So in return should I berate MSNBC Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews. Does that make my point more important. So I can attack another’s views. If you are so worried about the conservatives try talking to them. Take the high road be the bigger person and overwhelm them with kindness. Does attacking Fox make you better or the same as Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck. I am moderate if it’s that important to you. I hope you can respect my beliefs as I respect yours. We don’t have to agree but we don’t have to be condescending either.
Posted by: IO – Apr 10, 2011 8:40 PM
As a military dependent who followed her soldier father around post-war Europe and post-war Japan for many years, I have seen and experienced first-hand how many decades and how many generations it takes war-torn countries to recover to pre-war conditions, if they ever do. It even took the Southeastern states well into the early 1950s to recover to pre-Civil War economic stability. Other than the Civil War, we in America may not have had our shores breached to the extent of Europe and Asia, but it doesn’t take being a soldier at war in a foreign land or knowing a soldier to suffer deep physical and psychological trauma from living in the cultural and economic upheaval of a country constantly at war. Just like second hand smoke, second hand PTSD can be equally as damaging as experiencing the original trauma. The irony is the more military escalation the more vulnerable American citizens become. The Federal budget is best spent on America’s recovery and insuring American citizens regain their basic needs and their security. We cannot be a world leader if our own priorities are so distorted that we grossly neglect our own citizens.
Posted by: BBB – Apr 11, 2011 12:45 AM
@IO: Your point is well taken; I absolutely respect your beliefs. I apparently had missed that people felt Rick was overrepresenting European views; I guess I didn’t read that into his comments. My point in listing those shows was to illustrate that one-sidedness was not only on the liberal side, although I can see how you thought I was attacking them. You’re right, the folks you mentioned can be just as lopsided. Although it may not have seemed like it but I’m fairly moderate also; I don’t like extremism at either end of the spectrum. My use of the term “liberal” was meant to suggest how some on the extreme right refer to anyone to the left of themselves, regardless of their actual position (the whole generalization thing). I’d love to try and talk to conservatives, but unfortunately many of the ones I know are the more uncompromising, extreme sort. Right now they seem to be in a retaliatory mood, and tend to lash out if they sense someone is “attacking” conservatives.
Posted by: chris – Apr 11, 2011 3:06 AM
Great points on Americans becoming more vulnerable and neglecting our citizens. I think that is one aspect that we can strive to learn from some European countries. Chris couldn’t agree more on the extreme right or left. They scream so loud that those of us in the middle who are trying to find some common ground can’t be heard. I think a majority of us are getting tired of being treated like little kids by these extremes sides while they use childish tactics. We may differ on over funding in the military but I would imagine our core beliefs on it are very similar and only small details would need to be worked out. This is where I always felt Rick’s previous and subtle adventurous attitude to seek out new experiences and different cultures was more affective than his blunt political views. For example watching one of his first shows on Berlin’s new urban development or the transparency of the Reichstag’s glass dome. Or the different programs offered to expecting families in Sweden. I found my personal views changing and following politicians with similar ideas no matter which party. Here’s a great topic I always questioned and if anyone has insight I’d love to hear it. Europe and some Asian countries have a great transportation infrastructure, how are we SO far behind the curve?
Posted by: IO – Apr 11, 2011 5:34 AM
Some foreign aid and defense cuts proposed today that both right and left may be able to agree on. Do you think more is needed?
Posted by: AMEDDnurse – Apr 13, 2011 12:36 PM
Wait. The F-35 jets proposed to be cut is actually a desire of tea party libertarians as well as liberals; opposed by the regular GOP. It sounds like now this will end up a compromise between the tea party/ GOP in the budget deal to not build them-which is a start in reducing defense spending & the deficit but still a relative drop in the bucket, considering the entire deficit. The foreign aid cuts proposed today sound like the opposite of what most here want cut, which is of the military aid type. Come election time though, tea party libertarians, who are more in favor of defense cuts will still side with the GOP. I’m thinking though that most here on Rick’s blog want much more deeper cuts in defense spending.
Posted by: AMEDDnurse – Apr 13, 2011 4:53 PM
L recently heard the defense budget doubled in the last decade, and the US spends more on military than rest of the world combined. Does anyone have any info to confirm, or refute, this? It seems to me that we (the USA) are letting the countries of Europe get their defense at our expense.
Posted by: Matthew – Apr 13, 2011 8:04 PM
Thanks for this thoughtful post, Rick [INVALID] you breathe new life into the old adage that travel is broadening, i.e., it helps you see the world from different perspectives. I’m also pleased that most of the posts here are not knee-jerk Tea Partying; these folks must be among the minority of Americans who have passports. Also thanks for mentioning the elephant in the Washington room, a military budget that I heard this week is about $700 billion (same as the public cash giveaway to Goldman Sachs, the banks, etc.). In Canada we have a similar problem, with a greatly expanding military budget including a ludicrous plan to buy, coincidentally, F-35 stealth fighter jets. (With luck, our Tea Party will lose the May 2 election.) As much as the money wasted on the Pentagon, it’s important to consider damage the military causes to other peoples, the environment and even Americans. The post that complained about 700 U.S. military bases outside the States is on to something.
Posted by: Eric – Apr 15, 2011 2:02 PM
Rick et al, As part of the defense business, what most fail to realize is the buying of weapons and equipment like the JSF is a small porion of the defense budget. MAintaining the properties, paying the retirments, supporting the medical needs, and paying the troops dwarfs these items. Your Congressmen who refuse to close useless bases because of the impact on the local ecomonies would be a great place to focus your animosity. Your are correct, we spend a lot more than anyone else who all benefit from our investment. I think Trump is on the edge, but hie idea about charging for security has its upside and should be considered.
Posted by: Casey – Apr 24, 2011 5:22 PM
Thank God for Rick, and thank god for his sensible notions about expenditures. He owns the site, and so he can make whatever comments he wants. If you and the other fascists don’t like it, go to your own travel sites “Nazis on vacation”. As a leftist myself, I strongly agree with Rick. We need to cut our defense costs, and support people.
Posted by: Paul – May 01, 2011 1:00 PM