BIGUN

Here let me help you off that podium. The point was things we do not need. Duplicitous Items. We have a Navy. Does the Army need one. Military Chump Change? 100 million here, couple of hundred there. I thought the goal was to help fund Universal Healthcare and you asked for details.

So, help me understand. California is willing to spend upwards of 8 Billion dollars for moving a train (IMO: an antiquated system - why do we need trains?) rather than using it to reduce emissions or develop new forms of transportation?

The US Army has its own Navy - that is larger than some countries Navies. ~$129 Million a year.

Coast Guard falls under the Department of Homeland Security. Everything that is duplicitous. Aircraft, Infantry, Air Defense, Artillery, Supply, Logistics, Admin, finance, medical, etc.

Between 2001 and 2022, the U.S. spent over $8 trillion on war. The U.S. comprises just over 4% of the world’s population, but we're responsible for 40% of global military spending. And with all that money spent – has global security improved over the same time frame? Economies of scale. We don’t need five branches. One scaled down US Military. We also don’t need sixteen intelligence agencies. Scale it to one.

What I said to the OP was - when you make comparisons; it's OK, but when I do it; it's deflection. We've had this discussion. Until we stop spending as much as the next seven countries on our military. ridding our selves of the medical/pharma [all] lobbyists, and paying everyone to be our friend; it's not going to happen. I would hope we could do better. Their system is not that great a model.

Uh oh. Charged with Deflection in 3, 2 . . .

You forgot the parts-per 100,000

So, when I do it; it's deflection. When you do it; it's a comparison. Just shout deflection and deflect it.

On that note; how come no one ever talks about Norway's tax revenue from Oil & Gas exports? The net government cash flow from petroleum activities, 1971-2023

This was from an article done by CNN with the goal of highlighting the need for universal healthcare in the US and was disingenuous. There's numerous factors defining MMR; Some countries use within 42 weeks, some up to a year after the child is born, some include direct conditions and others indirect. Age and race plays a factor. Women in the US over 40 have a considerably higher MMR than those under 25. Do doctors classify it as Maternal Morbidity or Maternal Mortality (there's a difference). Even WHO states there are ongoing efforts to develop and validate tools to measure maternal morbidity. The Democratic Republic of Congo has the highest MMR rate in the world with 547/100,000 (as of 2020) Some of their numbers include Covid. DRC has implemented Universal Healthcare care for all pregnant women including comprehensive abortion services, but their MMR is still the highest in the region. It's a complex situation worthy of more than a single article by CNN espousing again; Norway great, US bad.

Careful, Joe. That's a trigger for those with an Army background.

I'll give you a heads up, Phil. ; )

Opinions expressed here are my own and not an official platform of the US Army.

You said, "Right. The odds are low but they are there. (Of course, that's true of flu as well; it could mutate and cause a lot more deaths.) Again, best approach - hand washing, flu shot, stay home when you are sick." ~Post 11 of the covid thread. Even the WHO didn't declare it a pandemic until March 11th which at that time was 24k deaths - a number much lower than the annual flu deaths. Before we completely derail the EV thread - We all learned quite a bit and I hope that future generations won't pause.

True. As in the Royal we here on this platform.

I'm glad. I'm glad we all came through that.

Yup, really. Read the first page of the COVID 19 thread.

In the beginning; we all pretended that COVID wasn't dangerous - until it was.

Not in all cases - hence the .pdf format as the source for answering the question properly.

You've replied to a 14 year old thread. How to qualify for ratings and awards is available in .pdf format: https://www.uspa.org/rating-holders-and-s-tas/sim-irm

I can tell you this, Ken 34 Felony convictions - if it were you and I - would we be looking at the slap on the wrist you presented? No one is above the law - AND the higher up the more you should be an example. 5 years in the pokey for each count. I rest my case. I've had enough of people in power not leading by example - so let's make them an example.

I have to disagree, Jerry. That only extends the division - It is a shameful day for all Americans - not matter what your affiliation.

You're going to make it my fault that you won't send vote vets $250? Do it because you believe in it, but don't make me a mechanism in this. But keep in mind your $250 had an effect on one person. That $250 could have an effect on many, many in the direction that you're trying to go.

Trump guilty. How's that art of the deal working for you now?