Germany: Is it better to spend on defense
or on welfare?
Deutsche Welle [Germany],
by
Jens Thurau
Original Article
Posted By: Moritz55,
2/21/2024 12:23:57 AM
Chancellor Olaf Scholz caused a stir with an almost casual statement: "My goal is that we finance the expenditure for the Bundeswehr from the general budget once the special fund has expired," he told the Süddeutsche Zeitung daily a few days ago.
The "special fund" is the €100 billion ($108 bn) established two years ago, after Russia's full-fledged invasion of Ukraine. The fund is a special loan taken out to strengthen the German military. Ammunition has been procured and expensive weapons systems have been ordered.
Current estimates say that money will likely be used up by 2027.
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Reply 1 - Posted by:
LadyHen 2/21/2024 1:48:59 AM (No. 1662020)
Ahh me.. should we give Mohammed and his 5 wives and 20 children shelter and food and citizenship or should we maybe just maybe think about a future when the US isn't?? Don't think the German elite aren't thinking this as Biden stumbles up yet another AF1 stairway.
10 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
Krause 2/21/2024 7:51:06 AM (No. 1662119)
You have to have a strong defense. There will always be the 'I will take over the world' guys. The Hitlers, Xi's, Putins, the crazy mullahs, etc.
1 person likes this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
NamVet70 2/21/2024 8:11:03 AM (No. 1662132)
It is ironic that Chancellor Scholz would suggest defense spending should take a backseat to welfare spending in a nation with a history of launching invasions of their neighboring countries to an extent that has precipitated two world wars resulting in the deaths of millions of victims. History clearly shows that inadequate defenses promote war and war brings the greatest possible harm to the welfare of all peoples. Spain, France, Germany and Russia all have been responsible for victimizing weaker nations throughout history. The cold war's nuclear threat was probably responsible for the longest period of peace in recent European history, although at the cost of liberty for half the continent.
0 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
skacmar 2/21/2024 8:16:33 AM (No. 1662139)
If you know that your nation is secure, you are better able to assure the safety, security, and welfare of your citizens. If your nation feels secure, people will invest and make your nation more successful and financially secure. When that happens, you are better able to deal with the people 's welfare issues and increase social spending.
3 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
bpl40 2/21/2024 8:19:56 AM (No. 1662145)
If you have this dilemma, you are already in trouble.
3 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
chumley 2/21/2024 8:44:51 AM (No. 1662171)
The money is best left with the poor schlubs that earned it. When government steals a nickel it spends a dollar, often on worthless or overpriced things. The best thing is to hide the nickel.
5 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
Socaworld 2/21/2024 8:48:19 AM (No. 1662176)
Welfare spending stagnates upward social mobility.
Examples? Europe's socialism after World War II, Great Society's black victims after three generations destroyed black families, Democrat inflation policies which kick the rug out from working-class savings, etc. etc. etc.
3 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
Highvoltage 2/21/2024 9:53:58 AM (No. 1662224)
How about a strong defense ensured Germany’s welfare.
2 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
Sully 2/21/2024 10:14:55 AM (No. 1662245)
It is called "Guns or butter," and it is a standard Econ 101 concept. You gotta pick one, cuz there's only X dollars in the kitty and you can't buy both with the same money.
At least it used to be standard Economics, before the United States took on the role as saviour of the free world and simply printed the dollars we needed that didn't exist. We've been swimming in guns AND butter for ourselves and every free country on Earth, enabling all of Europe to let us hold the guns while they slather on the butter, and no bad guys could touch them. Without getting past our Navy carriers.
And they got used to it, and only Trump saw the problem and wants to fix it.
2 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
DVC 2/21/2024 11:12:36 AM (No. 1662307)
If you wind up with the Russian boot heel on your neck, how much welfare do you think you'll collect then?
1 person likes this.
or? they are not unrelated. it has to be both in the right balance.
1 person likes this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
paral04 2/21/2024 2:29:02 PM (No. 1662419)
It seems to me that making sure you are safe is a first priority. Then you can worry about eating.
1 person likes this.
Germans are some of the leading europussies.
0 people like this.
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Though this article doesn’t focus on US politics, I thought it might be interesting.