Posted on Mar 14, 2015
SSG Ike Phelan
1.05K
20
5
0
0
0
Avatar feed
See Results
Responses: 4
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
0
0
0
This is a "counter intuitive" subject.

First and foremost we must realize that our overall mission is Global Stability. Global Stability helps us. The more things are stable, the less we spend in the long run. Think "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"

Second, money doesn't have the same value here as it does in other places. Think about how cost of living varies in the US between places like NYC, LA, and DC to places like TX, etc. Now imagine an even bigger change where the cost of production is not 10% but two orders of magnitude (100x). As an example, when I was still a government supplier, the cost to produce textiles in the US was about $18.00/hr. The exact same item produced offshore was $0.18/hr.

So, imagine we are looking at some third world country, which if left to its own devices is going to cause us to have to "visit it." That visit will cost us $1B dollars. However, if we were to provide $1M (1/1000) worth of aid, it would be worth $100M to them.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SGT Jim Z.
0
0
0
I really am tired of the United States being the aid provided to the world. When will the world respond and provide us aid for our thousands struggling farmers, or provide aid when the next major catastrophe occurs? We need to start looking at us as a country. Yes there is some aid that we need to continue providing.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
SSG Ike Phelan
0
0
0
I know our programs are often abused here in the United States but I also know they are abused overseas I talked to a contractor in AF that told me he bid on asnd wonn a contract to build a road for $165,000.00 which he then turned arounf and sold to someone else for $100,000.00 with in a matter of days by the time it was all said and done the contract was finnaly completed for the mere sum of $45,000.00 this is a real problem.
(0)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close