The President signed into law this week the latest military budget. Alongside the social safety nets the biggest tax expenditure is the Pentagon. Never mind that this far exceeds the next 26 nations spending, all but 2 are allies. Could we slash this budget with no ill effects to our security - almost certainly. Is there some reason it has not been cut, especially now that after 20 years we are not at war? The quick answer is that this beast must be fed regardless of external circumstances. Generals and Admirals want their toys and a a good argument could be had supporting the notion that they run the country, not the elected folks.
This is why we can't have cradle-to-grave health care for all Americans. This is why we can't have rapid rail transport, or free universal education. This is why we can't have new infrastructure, climate initiatives or reduced taxes.
This is why we can't have nice things.
—Truman to biographer Merle Miller, 1972, posthumously quoted in Time magazine, 1973
I’m in total agreement. The amount of money spent on national defense is morally wrong. The defense contractors have spread their manufacturing facilities over hundreds of congressional districts. No one in office wants to lose jobs for voters in their district so we continue to build tanks we don’t need or ships that don’t function to feed an industry that prevents us from doing the right thing for our fellow citizens.
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