Politics What is happening????

The $628 billion in the chart is DoD spending; most is personnel (uniform and civilian) and weapons; some small percentage is military aid (sale of weapons) to "friendly" govts and a smaller percentage is humanitarian (eg the current US military support in response in the Philippines.

Foreign aid is primarily out of the Dept of State budget.
--- merged: Nov 21, 2013 at 6:27 PM ---

 

Our current deployments are primarily Cold War leftovers and anti-terrorism (primarily Afghanistan and Iraq, to a lesser extent). Downsizing is long overdue.

And we can sell you some drones...slightly used

 

Conservatives will not be happy with the "socialist" Pope

 

Frankly, I don't see why churches and religious institutions are exempt either.

The funding goes to health care. The employer, regardless of who it is, should have no say in your health care choices. This shouldn't even be up for discussion.

 

Here is the answer - those who dislike Walmart, start a competing company and kick Walmart's ass. Pay people whatever you want. I bet if a competitor opened stores next to every Walmart and offered to pay double what Walmart pays all Walmart employees would leave for greater pay! It won't happen because like the video suggests, protestors and unions don't know anything about running a business.

 

A Costco at every corner?

Walmart Pays Workers Poorly And Sinks While Costco Pays Workers Well And Sails-Proof That You Get What You Pay For - Forbes

So why are you so adamant in supporting the Walmart model that goes into a market with few employment opportunities for those most in need of a decent paying job and sucks the life out of these folks with low wages and shady employment practices that have resulted in $hundreds of millions in fines (and court awards to aggrieved employees) that the company can evidently absorb? Is that really representative of good business practices?

 

But Walmart knows how to run a business!

Wal-Mart pays $82 million fine for dumping hazardous waste - May. 28, 2013

Walmart To Pay More Than $11.7 Million To Settle EEOC Sex Discrimination Suit

 

I would assume then that every protestor of Walmart shops at Costco. People who want to earn more money can work at Costco. why not leave Walmart, its employees, its customers alone?

I started shopping at Walmart about 4/5 years ago. One thing I observed about Walmart employees is that they seem to be people who would not be employed in many other places - at one extreme we have Abecrombie and Fitch who openly will only hire a certain type - Walmart people need not even walk in the door - and to a lesser degree many of the mid and upscale retailers are the same way. I am happy the senior greeter says hello to me as I walk in, and I don't care if the checkout line goes a little slower because the cashier isn't the fastest or needs help on occasion. I love the fact that they have low prices with no gimmicks and conditions for young families....etc., etc., etc. I now own stock in the company and I am proud of that. I worked at McDonald's as a student, same is true with them...they provide opportunity, provided good goods and services at low prices.

I am very familiar with urban settings with rat and roach infested stores and restaurants - charging high prices for low quality. And taking the money out of the community. to this day I know people in Chicago who have to travel 30 minutes or more to get to a good grocery store...75% young black male unemployment while the city won't let Walmart in!!! It is truly sad, that city leaders, talk about looking out for the poor, but simply don't give a damn. If they did conditions would improve.

 

Right, Ace.

The solution to high unemployment in inner cities is to flood those areas with minimum wage jobs and highly questionable working conditions (based on the numerous fines) so that all this new found "disposal" income can be spent at Walmart so they can hire more folks at minimum wage and questionable working conditions.

And, dont forget to take away their SNAP benefits at the same time!

 

In 1990, Employment Division v. Smith was a radical overturning of previous rulings in favor of the primacy of religious observance, versus conflicting laws.

Advocates for religious denominations got Congress to pass the "Religious Freedom Restoration Act", which sought to restore that primacy, even against state and local laws that Congress had nothing to do with.

First Amendment absolutists hate Smith, but I think it restored some balance.

I think Smith will be used to rule that corporations CANNOT claim any kind of religious exemption from law. In other words, in this case, I am pretty optimistic about what the Supreme Court will do.