Fun fact about US military spending

[Angelsjunky]

We all know that the US spends more on its military than any other nation. But how about this: the 2015 US military budget, at #1, is about the same as the next eight countries combined.

 

 

[Tank]

We're number one! We're number one!

[gotbeer]

We probably spend more on education than any country in the world also.  And the results speak for themselves.

[nate]

We probably spend more on education than any country in the world also.  And the results speak for themselves.

 

Second to Switzerland.  Most countries that spend less are far more successful.  Few reasons for it.  For one, students spend more time in school in other countries than here.  They also invest way more money in training the teachers and paying the teachers than here.  They don't have tenure, and the cost of the schools overall is much lower than here.  In the US schools are on expensive property with expensive utilities and security.  Plus we all know how wasteful US bureaucracy is.  But more than anything, for some reason in the US, parents aren't focused on education.  In the countries that have the strongest education the kids go to school longer and their parents put an emphasis on it.

[Taylor]

Second to Switzerland.  Most countries that spend less are far more successful.  Few reasons for it.  For one, students spend more time in school in other countries than here.  They also invest way more money in training the teachers and paying the teachers than here.  They don't have tenure, and the cost of the schools overall is much lower than here.  In the US schools are on expensive property with expensive utilities and security.  Plus we all know how wasteful US bureaucracy is.  But more than anything, for some reason in the US, parents aren't focused on education.  In the countries that have the strongest education the kids go to school longer and their parents put an emphasis on it.

 

[Angelsjunky]

LOL. Sad but true.

[nate]

Lol.  Actually it's northern European countries that lead in education.  They live simpler lives, don't deal with war and overpriced military's.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

We probably spend more on education health care than any country in the world also.  And the results speak for themselves.

 

Fixed.

[arch stanton]

One of the biggest factors in our military spending is that our huge military gets paid pretty well compared to most. It's one of the few industries that aren't gutting their labor costs.

[Jason]

One of the biggest factors in our military spending is that our huge military gets paid pretty well compared to most. It's one of the few industries that aren't gutting their labor costs.

I was thinking the same thing. I don't see Chinese military personnel getting paid a whole lot. I bet if they got paid like our soldiers the list would look different

[Glen]

One of the biggest factors in our military spending is that our huge military gets paid pretty well compared to most. It's one of the few industries that aren't gutting their labor costs.

 

 

The military goes through a lot of troop-level fluctuations but you are correct, the pay is pretty good.  Especially when you stick it out for a few enlistments.

[Adam]

I think Glen should be fired

[Crampknees]

I don't have any issues with the military being paid well.  

[arch stanton]

The military goes through a lot of troop-level fluctuations but you are correct, the pay is pretty good.  Especially when you stick it out for a few enlistments.

Not just pay. Housing, rations, schools overseas, medical care, etc. US troops get the full socialist treatment in defense of capitalism.

[arch stanton]

I don't have any issues with the military being paid well.  

I don't have any issue with it either. I'm just noting that it's a huge reason our defense budget is so high.

[Crampknees]

Spreading Democracy where they don't want it costs more than salaries. That is where I would start first. 

[Jay]

[TobiasFunke]

Yea, the Marines and Team America live by the same law

[Glen]

Not just pay. Housing, rations, schools overseas, medical care, etc. US troops get the full socialist treatment in defense of capitalism.

Yeah, I meant the whole package.

[Spirit]

Yeah, I meant the whole package.

 

Hehehe ... you said "package." 

[juansavage1]

If you account for demographics, US education is about the same. That is, Chinese students do as well here as in China, Mexicans about as well as in Mexico. Scores in Minnesota about as good as in Sweden.

[nate]

Sort of.  It isn't racial demographics though.  It is social demographics.  In states like Minnesota there is far less urban culture and more rural/suburban culture.  Hard workers, sense of family, etc.

[HaloMagic]

Juan Savage seems like he might bust out with some bakunin-type stuff at some point here.

[arch stanton]

He'll have to complete the checklist in his FoxNews starter kit first

[juansavage1]

I don't know if you guys know about how social sciences work, but the trick is to find correlations. For example, political affiliation and church attendance. Grades and IQ, family status, or income.

 

In education, among the highest correlation is ethnic group (I'm Hispanic, for full disclosure). If you look at the overall numbers in CA, education seems pretty bad, but if you divide by ethnicity, it's not. After all, Irvine is under the same state regulations as Watts and the teachers get paid about the same. The "decline" in CA education is almost all a demographic shift.

Edited May 25, 2015 by Juan Savage