Hiroshima, 64 years ago

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

How many Taliban/Militants are fighting in Afghanistan right now, I have heard estimates of around 15,000 at a high end with this number including those who have been shipped in from areas such as Chechnya, Pakistan and China to name a few of the places. Think as to how difficult life would be for us over there if there were millions of people willing to die for their country, the war would be catastrophic for us and our allies... plus this is with modern technology.

Sure, there are lots of differences between Afghanistan and Japan. Same with Vietnam and Japan... I notice you didn't bring up my other points.

[starseed]

Diplomacy has done a lot to prevent death and destruction. What would have happened in the Cuban missile crisis without it? What about Pearson getting the UN to put a buffer between Egypt and France/Britain during the Suez crisis. There are many examples.

Coutries like Japan, Canada and most of the European Community, have vastly de-militarized. Todays conflicts are caused by people fighting for resources, that is true. It can even be linked to the basis for the problems in Israel/Palestine/Lebanon. It is a common theme, and it is something our scientists are working on, and making great progress. From engineering crops to withstand harsh environments, to making cheap and efficient ways to purify water, humanity is making it easier and easier to get access to vital resources.

The UN technology achievement index is a way to measure the most technologically advanced countries.

The top 10 are:
1 Finland
2 US
3 Sweden
4 Japan
5 Korea, Republic of
6 Netherlands
7 UK
8 Singapore
9 Canada
10 Australia

If technology comes from military expenditure, I think we would see more big military spenders on that list. China was 45th.

It may not be the best list, but countries like Canada, Japan and various members of the EU are high up on that list despite major cutbacks to military expenditure over the decades. Yet, we still see a steady exponential growth of technology. War and recession has done nothing to slow or speed the rate of doubling in computer process power.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._2008_1024.png

[HOZ]

Originally Posted by starseed

Diplomacy has done a lot to prevent death and destruction. What would have happened in the Cuban missile crisis without it? What about Pearson getting the UN to put a buffer between Egypt and France/Britain during the Suez crisis. There are many examples.

Coutries like Japan, Canada and most of the European Community, have vastly de-militarized. Todays conflicts are caused by people fighting for resources, that is true. It can even be linked to the basis for the problems in Israel/Palestine/Lebanon. It is a common theme, and it is something our scientists are working on, and making great progress. From engineering crops to withstand harsh environments, to making cheap and efficient ways to purify water, humanity is making it easier and easier to get access to vital resources.

The UN technology achievement index is a way to measure the most technologically advanced countries.

The top 10 are:
1 Finland
2 US
3 Sweden
4 Japan
5 Korea, Republic of
6 Netherlands
7 UK
8 Singapore
9 Canada
10 Australia

If technology comes from military expenditure, I think we would see more big military spenders on that list. China was 45th.

It may not be the best list, but countries like Canada, Japan and various members of the EU are high up on that list despite major cutbacks to military expenditure over the decades. Yet, we still see a steady exponential growth of technology. War and recession has done nothing to slow or speed the rate of doubling in computer process power.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._2008_1024.png

Japan is the worlds second biggest military spender with the second( third?) largest navy. South Korea spends a monstrous amount of money on its defenses as everyone is conscripted into the military. Sweden as well spends alot due to its neutrality. Finland as well spends a large amount due to it's less than friendly neighbour. Singapore spends a lot on it's military and has conscription to keep it's larger and poorer neighbours and pirates honest.

[starseed]

Wow I had no idea Japan spent that much on defence. They spend 0.8% of GDP which is 150th, but their economy is the second largest in the world, so its enough to put them only behind the US, UK, France and China in total expenditure.

A common thing amongst the highest on that list is that they are free nations. Military spending has a part in the advancement of technology, but I think free enterprise has more to do with it. Its corporate research that brings us cars, iPhones and macbooks. But Microwave ovens and the internet got its start from companies in the defense industry.

I think military spending has acted like that carrot dangling in front of us. It was a problem we worked hard to provide a solution to. But I think humanity always works to find solutions, develop tools to make life easier, and make their tools easier to make and more efficient. One problem humanity has faced is defending and securing resources, which leads to territoriality and the eventual despising and mistrust of their neighbour. I think that need to defend and secure resources will one day disappear thanks to technology.

I think the only reason the military has had such an impact on technology is the huge need for it. The more extreme the need, the more effort we put into it. Had we not needed it, I think humanity would work towards solving other problems that immediately faced them. I dont know if we would work towards things like ending hunger (because we are a selfish animal), but we are at least trying now, so maybe we would try harder since so much resources would be freed up. Capitalism works with our greed and materialism, but also our other desires and ambitions. For example, as long as people want to travel as fast as possible, air transport will continue to develop new technologies. As long as people want to go to Mars, it will be a goal we will achieve.