Question about bringing the troops home

[The New Fury]

Ron Paul has stated numerous times that he would bring the troops home immediately-- all of them. There are over 369,000 active duty personnel serving overseas. Ron has stated that their return to the U.S. would provide an instant stimulus to the economy. We would certainly save billions in tax payer dollars; however, wouldn't most of these people now be unemployed? What percentage of their jobs could be transferred to military positions in the continental U.S.? How does Paul plan to acclimate so many soldiers back into society at once? Could there possibly be some sort of fallout or negative repercussions due to the immediacy of this action? If so, what are they, and how do we deal with them?

Also, what would you say to someone like this (my friend's comments very paraphrased) dealing with the pragmatism of protecting economic interests in a volatile region: "I totally agree that we should get our troops out of places like Afghanistan and Iraq, and it is ridiculous for us to be in stable areas like Germany, but what about something like South Korea? It seems silly to have American troops on the Korean border, but what if North Korea invaded and took over the headquarters of a company like Kia that provides thousands of jobs to American consumers back at home? We should never murder innocent people for corporate interest, but what about the reality of our empire? Power vacuums, etc...

[robertwerden]

When you are in the military you sign a contract for 4 years or 2 years at a time. So only those who are at the end of their contract would become civilians. The rest would be housed on base. Even if they live in the same tents they lived in in Iraq, they are still better off here at home.

The money they are paid in salary would be spent in the USA

The support they can give to local government in emergencies can replace FEMA

The support they can give to the border patrol can stop drug trafficing

The support they can give to the economy should they decide to buy homes would boost the failing housing market

The list goes on.

[TexMac]

About 11.5 million American men came home from WW II.The economy boomed.

[robertwerden]

Forgot to mention, on the border situation. If the President moved the illegal border crossings from a criminal offense to a act of war, with a shoot on site order to the marines patrolling in humvees and Apache helicopters, then the word would get back to the illegals planning to cross that the penalty is death, and the Marines dont fuck around. This would give a pretty good incentive to illegals to cross legally and wait in line just like everyone else.

Also the service members who are stationed over seas get tax breaks and dont pay state taxes or sales taxes, so we would have a huge revenue increase the first week they are home in tax revenues.

[bunklocoempire]

Bringing them home doesn't mean firing them.

I've got no hard numbers for you, but like Paul, I completely believe that the market takes care of itself -and more so if we keep our noses out of it -do you?;)



Bunkloco

[eff]

No need to worry about the drug trafficking with the war on drugs over.

[robertwerden]

gun trafficking, human, black market goods will always exsist

[VictorB]

Just because they are coming home doesn't mean they are out of a job. There are plenty of things that they could help with here at home. Also, because we are trying to save money doesn't mean that we don't renew contracts. Simply by shutting down bases we would save on operating costs. That would save a tremendous amount of money in itself.

[Paul4Prez]

...what about something like South Korea? It seems silly to have American troops on the Korean border, but what if North Korea invaded...

Many Koreans on both sides want to reconcile, and to be able to visit their relatives on the other side. If the US troops leave, that could happen. With a less militarized border with no foreign occupying troops, it would be harder for the North to keep their people in the dark about how much they are suffering due to their backward ruling regime. Increasing commercial and familial ties would bring the North back into the modern world. The South is more than capable of defending themselves without US troops, if need be.