But there's no additional money available for infrastructure and social services within Germany. Something something Bundeshaushalt excuse and EU federal debt limit.

[–] Metal_Zealot@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Whew, watch out, I mentioned the same kind of sentiment on a post about the billions of dollars that America is sending for the war, and got lectured on "that's not how government budgeting works and you know it blah blah blah"

[–] knfrmity@lemmygrad.ml 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's neat how it's so easy for capitalist governments to authorize money for killing people, but when it comes to social spending there isn't even a penny to spare.

The German finance minister has been gleeful up on his high horse preventing additional spending on important things Germans need, but approved a €100B special fund for the military in 2022 outside of the bounds of the federal budget.

I think it's also worth mentioning that most of the US "aid" is actually loans. Even their food aid comes with real strong strings attached. The US owns Ukraine at this point. Although I'd don't know how German aid spending or military spending in support of Israel in general is structured.

[–] Metal_Zealot@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Investing in making people die over-seas, rather than the wellbeing of their own population that essentially pays their wage...
Yea, anyone would find that blatantly suspicious. Their goals are perfectly clear.

But people have drank so much USA Koolaid that they cant possibly imagine a country running any differently.

[–] knfrmity@lemmygrad.ml 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's not just Koolaid.

The relative domestic prosperity of the US is built upon that very overseas death and exploitation.

The people of the imperial core have some material interest in keeping that system of oppression going, even if they don't realize it or think about it in those terms.

[–] Metal_Zealot@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

And those people are the most dangerous kinds of sociopaths.

[–] knfrmity@lemmygrad.ml 2 points 1 year ago

I don't think I can agree with that.

Of course the capitalist class generally know what they're doing, but that's not who I was talking about.

I meant that everyday working people have a material interest in more or less keeping the status quo. I'm not sure that you can define this group as sociopaths.

[–] nonailsleft@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If they're unwilling to stop an aggressor at their doorstep for a fraction of their budget, having more infrastructure or social services won't help them much

[–] Metal_Zealot@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If it's such a small fraction, why is it so impossible to use it for other means?

Name one country with a bigger military budget

[–] nonailsleft@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Russia?

[–] Metal_Zealot@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

Famous for how well they treat their citizens