I just received my annual TCP-1 letter from LLNS and a summary of the LLNS Pension Plan. Looked in pretty good shape in 2013. About 35% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 134.92%). This was a decrease from 2012 where it was 51% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 151.59%). They did note that the 2012 change in the law on how liabilities are calculated using interest rates improved the plan's position. Without the change the funding target attainment percentages would have been 118% (2012) and 105% (2013). 2013 assets = $2,057,866,902 2013 liabilities = $1,525,162,784 vs 2012 assets = $1,844,924,947 2012 liabilities = $1,217,043,150 It was also noted that a slightly different calculation method ("fair market value") designed to show a clearer picture of the plan' status as December 31, 2013 had; Assets = $2,403,098,433 Liabilities = $2,068,984,256 Funding ratio = 116.15% Its a closed plan with 3,781 participants. Of that number, 3,151 wer...
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So basically.
(1) The military does care about NW.
(2) There is no possible use for them in the modern age
(3) No one wants to be charge of stuff that will never ever be used
(4) It is really expensive to maintain stuff no will use.
(5) This stuff is very dangerous and something could go wrong.
Ok that about sums it up. I say get rid of the all the weapons, the military will not care, we will free up god people, save money that could be used for other weapons and it will be safer. It is kind of insane to think we are spending so much money on something we cannot use because there is no possible use for it.
Rock solid article.
If we got rid of the weapons there is no guarantee that the cost savings would go to the military or the taxpayers. More than likely other social boondoggles would grab the dough.
There is also the problem of convincing Russia, China, France, England, Israel, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Iran to give up their nukes. It's that old problem of trying to stuff the genie back into the bottle.
The point that it is really expensive to maintain and will not be used is also an argument about insurance or firearms. I hope you don't need it, but if you do you'll need it more than you've ever needed anything else in your life.
Weak argument, at least some social boondoggles are good. We could use it to rebuild Baltimore or help the homeless in California.
"There is also the problem of convincing Russia, China, France, England, Israel, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Iran to give up their nukes. It's that old problem of trying to stuff the genie back into the bottle."
I think this is the real issue. The moment we give up nukes, China will start mass producing them and test. Not to mention Europe would go back to conventional warfare. If the US gets rid of its arsenal you will have WWIII in less then 10 years but with conventional weapons or Chinese and Russian nukes.
Or Pakistani nukes, or NK nukes, or India nukes. No policeman, no check on the bad guys.
9/25/2019 7:34 PM
Baltimore baby! But with nukes! What could possibly go wrong.
I mean maybe a better solution would for Google or Microsoft to control the biggest arsenal.
9/25/2019 7:34 PM
Yeah, Germany did that really well in the 1930's. Also Cambodia in the 1960's and 70's. History is just full of people "policing themselves." Then the grownups have to clean it up.
9/26/2019 4:58 PM
Actually, the "grownups" sent their sons and daughters to clean it up. Many are still there.
10/05/2019 5:57 AM
Why in the world would you think that??