"Low cost insurance of Security against our very large northern neighbour. "
Fair comment, Joe.
But can we afford it?
With F-35's, submarines, missile bases, and now new frigates armed with the latest Aegis defence systems, our quality of life will be affected. Medical benefits, pensions,etc are being trimmed to pay for these things. We're not like the US and cant just print money off to pay for everything. People being kept alive with expensive medications have already been doomed to die. Years ago, someone diagnosed with mesothelioma lived for no more than 9 months....... then a new drug was giving them years of quality life. The female health minister withdrew that from the list and made it unaffordable. I signed a petition over that, having seen family members die of mesothelioma..... it is a horrible death.
And there are many others. I'm pretty sure you wouldnt say "Stuff them, lets buy the frigates. "
Another petition I signed was over a little girl with only a quarter of a normal brain... with a therapy, she was almost a normal bubbly child instead of a form just cringing in a corner...... that therapy was removed from her. That probably paid for an F35 pilot's helmet.
My position here is not US bashing, lol, but economics/quality of life.
If we buy all that stuff, do you think we could defend ourselves from China on our own for 5 minutes? Indonesia, I think we can handle now. All that stuff then would be used to assist the US in sailing up the South China Sea with their fleets, and poking China and NK. And if China gets cheesed and dumps us as a trading partner, would the US feed us? Both China and NK have warned us to keep out of it. as far as NK being a threat to us, I doubt he can nuke us with his tin can rockets.
Its a pity our govt never saved any of the big monies made during our mining boom, cause I fear things are going to be tighter and tighter. When pensioners find they cant even afford to eat or have one light bulb glowing, we will regret our huge military expenditures. Just my thoughts, mate. I'm nearly there due to my silly investments in crappy penny dreadful stocks.... my fault, shouldnt have listened to their stories.
And thats it from me on our military spending.
Hey, did read a while back that the UK wanted us to buy an aircraft carrier from them... that would be the last straw.
