Would you pay more tax to boost defence spending

[trainermush]

Obviously we are now in a more precarious position & defence spending has been underfunded for some time. RR had just said we need to spend more money & she will but without breaking her fiscal rules,

"So we will stick to our fiscal rules. But recognising the priority of defence spending in the world that we live in today means that we will have to make difficult choices so that we can spend that money that is needed to keep our country safe."

Mulling it over & even though I think I pay enough tax I would pay more each month towards this (cut back in other areas) as opposed to labour cutting back on something else. I guess thinking about my dc & other loved ones has changed my mind somewhat now things appear more bleak. What do others think?
Conscription of young people terrifies me even though my dc are too young.

so what some are saying if Russia invaded then they would be the first to allow our country to surrender due to not wanting to fund our countrys defences ?

I don't pay much tax as I'm now a pensioner, but hypothetically.... I would certainly be happy to pay more tax to shore up the nation in terms of education, healthcare etc., but NOT for so called 'defence'. I don't support war or the proliferation of weapons, I'd prefer diplomatic and political solutions not armies.

I accept it's likely to be an unrealistic view, but it's how I feel.

I don't think we will have any choice. I just want the burden to be spread evenly.

Do you think that's all the defence budget goes on?

I just want the burden to be spread evenly.

it would have to be

that's the main worry in war, if you have a fully equipped army and a country with no army and they want eg that countries resources etc then they will just roll right across and get those resources, and lets be honest talking is not going to stop them

They won't invade, they'll hit a button and we'll all be fucked.

Shit happens.

According to Wikipedia, total military spending by NATO countries was 55% of the world's military spend in 2022. And Trump wants that to increase?

The real question is, who will profit from increased military spending?

Yes if the billionaires pay it, to make up for all the tax breaks they e received thus far. No, if it's teachers and nurses and doctors who pay for it.

But let me guess. The billionaires will be excused from paying and decamp to their bunkers, their children will develop bone spurs to excuse them from the draft; sons and daughters of teachers and nurses will be drafted and their parents will pay higher taxes. Because that's what ALWAYS happens.

the military industrial complex in terms of profits, then in terms of safety the free world nations of the west

I don't pay much tax as I'm now a pensioner,

I think some pensioners will have to contribute in whatever form. I think lower earners, people who don't work, those on benefits. Basically virtually everyone would have to put something into the pot.

well yes to a t, personally you know the majority of the public would do the same too if they had the chance,

@Onlyonekenobe yeah the billionaires will be the one group exempt but what can you do.

I fear it may be too late already - presumably it takes time to build the arms and infrastructure we need. - I doubt Russia and the US is going to wait nicely while we do

Absolutely. My DH is Army and says it’s essential.

Fucking hell, yes, I want more defence spending. If we think we can't afford to prepare for war we sure as hell wouldn't be able to afford the actual war that's then much more likely.

You'll spend more on defence as long as it's someone else's kids doing the defending, eh?

What can you do?

Do you have a child of drafting age? What would you do if Musk's or Trump's kids don't have to fight, and your child is killed in battle?

Where is this apathy coming from?

No, not really

Russia will not invade us

They don’t have the ships and men to do so

From their perspective it is more efficient to interfere with our political process

Ramping up defence spending to counter a threat of Russian invasion is likely to be a waste of money

You can't really count it like that as

• Trump is now openly saying he's willing to fuck Europe to get on well with Russia
• We won't keep having access to NATO if spending as a while doesn't go up

not trying to be arsey but do you think the world could be in such a bad place precisely because so many billions are spent on defence?

But cyber defense expenses are a part of military spending too.

@Pokadotspink that's the whole point: most people are stopped from having the opportunity because those inside have stacked the deck so that those outside don't stand a chance. There's no equality between the two groups. We're not the same except that they're rich. We are their serfs, they are our masters.

No we haven't, this narrative is tired. The US contributes 16% of NATO spend, whilst still a sizable chunk its nowhere near the random, completely made up figures social media is pumping out as fact. They have been scaling back the number of US personnel and stations in Europe for many years, and the bases left are strategic for their benefit rather than being planned and positioned for an altruistic benefit of others. The only country of whom article 5 has been invoked for was the US post 9/11- how much did we spend and how many UK service personnel died supporting the US? Billions upon billions and over 700.

I think he may be a little biased