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Or more optimistically, an unauthorized, unintentional welfare program. The military industrial complex is not that different in form from the massive public w
by superuser2 11y ago
Or more optimistically, an unauthorized, unintentional welfare program.
The military industrial complex is not that different in form from the massive public works jobs program many propose to replace it with, except that the latter would also have the side effect of good infrastructure.
- markdown 11y ago> except that the latter would also have the side effect of good infrastructure. And would happen at home in the open with competitors and political opponents keeping a watchful eye on things (in their own interest), not in some far off country hidden away from prying eyes.
- notahacker 11y agobut it wouldn't be "unpatriotic" or "weak on defence" for said political opponents to criticise it...
- mikeash 11y agoA lot of this military waste has the side effect of (some) good infrastructure too, it's just in other countries! I always think it's weird that we're so willing to spend tons of money building stuff in other countries, but not our own.
- superuser2 11y agoWell, Devil's Advocate, we didn't literally bomb our own infrastructure. That does confer a moral responsibility to replace it.
- mikeash 11y agoThat's a fair point, although I'd say it doesn't apply too much in a place like Afghanistan which was fairly thoroughly destroyed before we even got there.