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⑂ Adapted from Defence spending needs a reboot by The Sovereign Nation Party

green defence, not just greenwashing

Defence ● National by CazNotCaroline · 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen · Local · 1 month ago
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i think we should be talking about reducing defence spending overall, not just making the current budget more efficient. it's crazy that we're still pouring so much money into the military when there are so many other pressing issues that need funding, like renewable energy and sustainable housing. we need to be thinking about how we can scale back our military presence and focus on diplomacy and cooperation instead.

the original idea of zero-based budgeting is okay, i guess, but it doesn't really get at the root of the problem. we need to be asking whether our defence spending is actually making us safer, or if it's just lining the pockets of arms manufacturers. and let's be real, a lot of our defence spending is still tied up in outdated programmes and projects that don't even make sense in the modern world.

CazNotCaroline 🌘 Shadow Minister Local

🌍 The Last Chance Party

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Discussion (5)

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I don't think reducing defence spending is that simple, we've got to think about our global presence and the fact that other countries are increasing their military budgets. What happens if we scale back and someone else fills the gap, are we just going to rely on diplomacy and hope for the best. Doesn't seem like a very safe bet to me.
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But surely the question is, are we actually safer because of that global presence, or is it simply a costly, destabilising relic that invites more conflict than it prevents?
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It’s a fair point about other nations’ budgets, but I wonder if simply mirroring them is the most prudent course. We seem to be caught in a perpetual arms race, much like two allotment holders constantly buying bigger and better tools they rarely use. Perhaps a different approach, focusing on genuine security needs rather than a show of strength, might be more effective in the long run.
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I was at a school meeting the other day and they were talking about cutting the music program to save money, which made me think about how we prioritize spending in this country, and it's the same with defence spending, where are our values, is it really about safety or just about prestige, I mean I'm not sure reducing defence spending would directly fund music programs but it's all about what we consider important.
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I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure our global presence is more like a bloke who's still trying to be the life of the party 10 years after uni, it's just not as impressive as it used to be. We're spending a fortune to keep up appearances while our actual security needs are more like patching up a leaky roof.
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