I'm actually mostly OK with a very large amount of military spending - we protect world shipping lanes through military spending, and have a rather unique capability in being able to project force almost anywhere in the world - central Asia being a hard place for us to get to. We also are actually battle-ready, unlike most western nations. Most western nations, if they were forced to fight a war tomorrow, would actually be in a very bad position for at least a month or two until they were able to mobilize, fix equipment that was never repaired, and so on; the US's extensive spending actually keeps us relatively up-to-date and capable, even during extended peacetime.
All that said, I'm sure there's waste in there somewhere. Eisenhower did warn about the military industrial complex, and its effects are surely real. I like being the strongest kid on the block, and continuing to be the preeminent world military power - at least for the near future - is probably OK in the long-term. But finding the waste and extraneous things, and fixing the spending there is also a good idea as well.
I'm actually mostly OK with a very large amount of military spending - we protect world shipping lanes through military spending, and have a rather unique capability in being able to project force _almost_ anywhere in the world - central Asia being a hard place for us to get to. We also are _actually_ battle-ready, unlike most western nations. Most western nations, if they were forced to fight a war tomorrow, would actually be in a very bad position for at least a month or two until they were able to mobilize, fix equipment that was never repaired, and so on; the US's extensive spending actually keeps us relatively up-to-date and capable, even during extended peacetime.
All that said, I'm sure there's waste in there somewhere. Eisenhower did warn about the military industrial complex, and its effects are surely real. I like being the strongest kid on the block, and continuing to be the preeminent world military power - at least for the near future - is probably OK in the long-term. But finding the waste and extraneous things, and fixing the spending there is also a good idea as well.
This subverse is primarily intended to talk about Libertarian philosophy, values, and ideas. We are not affiliated with the Libertarian Party in any way. All viewpoints and discussion is welcome, as long as it's cordial.
I'm actually mostly OK with a very large amount of military spending - we protect world shipping lanes through military spending, and have a rather unique capability in being able to project force almost anywhere in the world - central Asia being a hard place for us to get to. We also are actually battle-ready, unlike most western nations. Most western nations, if they were forced to fight a war tomorrow, would actually be in a very bad position for at least a month or two until they were able to mobilize, fix equipment that was never repaired, and so on; the US's extensive spending actually keeps us relatively up-to-date and capable, even during extended peacetime.
All that said, I'm sure there's waste in there somewhere. Eisenhower did warn about the military industrial complex, and its effects are surely real. I like being the strongest kid on the block, and continuing to be the preeminent world military power - at least for the near future - is probably OK in the long-term. But finding the waste and extraneous things, and fixing the spending there is also a good idea as well.