The True Cost…

This entry is based on information from https://www.thebalance.com. It is listed under Success as it is good to understand what our government is doing with our money. Just to get readers interested, below are some highlights from an article on the USA’s Military Budget. The link at the end of this entry is the full article. “US Military Budget, Its Components, Challenges, and Growth”.

Apparently, despite closing hundreds of bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States still maintains nearly 800 military bases in more than 70 countries and territories abroad—from giant “Little Americas” to small radar facilities. Britain, France and Russia, by contrast, have about 30 foreign bases combined.

Congress won’t allow DOD to close bases. The Bi-Partisan Budget Act of 2013 blocked future military base closings. Few elected officials are willing to risk losing local jobs caused by base closures in their states. Blog comment: Another great example of vision and leadership! It’s about elected officials’ jobs, not the country!

Since 2010 the military spending will be about $10 Trillion.

Some perspective: In 2018, US military spending was about three times more than China’s military budget of $250 billion and 10 times bigger than Russia’s budget of just $61.4 billion.

The Defense Department knows it needs to become more efficient. It now spends a third of its budget on personnel and maintenance. That will rise to 100% by 2024, thanks to retirement and medical costs.

Ironically, the DOD base budget does not include the cost of wars. That falls under Overseas Contingency Operations.

https://www.thebalance.com/u-s-military-budget-components-challenges-growth-3306320

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“Root Cause”

Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large, updated 3:17 PM ET, Thu March 11, 2021

The following blog opinion comments on a CNN Politics article entitled “What the immigration ‘crisis’ debate is missing”, from CNN’s “5 Things”, 3.15.21. Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large, updated 3:17 PM ET, Thu March 11, 2021

Excerpt from the article: “One effort that was discussed at a White House press briefing this week is an effort to address the “root causes” of immigration (these are the push factors I mentioned earlier). Ambassador Roberta Jacobson, special assistant to the president and coordinator for the southern border, said the administration wants to spend $4 billion over four years to do this (one big question to keep in mind about this: We’ve heard other administrations say they’re going to do this before, too — and they’ve tried. What could the Biden administration do differently this time?”

From the blog: I can tell Biden what the “root cause” of the immigration mess is on the Mexican border for far less than a $4 billion dollar, 4 year study. The root causes”, there’s more than one, are simple. It is all about seeking a better life. People are hoping for better living conditions, improved health, education, and medical care. And look for opportunity, and relief from inept governments, poverty, crime, and corruption that exist in in Mexico and Central American Countries. The root causes. Are there criminals among those seeking entry, sure. Probably some. But good processes might eliminate most.

Spend the $4 billion on finishing the wall and to hire some talented executives to put in place a process to manage immigration that can be applied at any border. Clearly, the USA has yet to find the talent to do that. And I can’t imagine the size of the government payroll that is tasked with immigration management and that supports the inability to solve the problem.

Government !

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You just wouldn’t think it should take the WTO…

CNN. “”5 Things” 3.10.2021. Around the world, richer nations are administering about one vaccine dose every single second, but most of the poorest ones have yet to get a single shot, a global vaccine alliance says. These same rich nations are blocking efforts by developing countries to waive intellectual property rights on Covid-19 vaccines so others can get the vaccines they need. A World Trade Organization (WTO) committee will meet today to discuss waiving these rights in the interest of public health.

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The Importance of Staying Creative

One of the things I miss about working in a global business is the energy, motivation, and enthusiasm that is shared by engaged professionals across the company. It helps with spawning creativity and innovation.

Even when you have hung up your full – time working life… It is important to stay motivated and innovate in a way that keeps you fresh and prevents you from appearing to others like an innate lump.

From Fast Company (1/24/2021) …. working or retired, one can avoid being an innate anything!
From fastcompany.com … do-these-5-things-and-youll-never-run-out-of-new-ideas

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