It seems a lot of this had to due with the economic situation after WW2. The US was the only country that produced stuff, most of Europe and Japan were devastat

It seems a lot of this had to due with the economic situation after WW2. The US was the only country that produced stuff, most of Europe and Japan were devastated. Then competition came back in the 70's coupled with inflation and the oil embargo, which hit the US hard. Reagan basically started deficit spending to pump up the military in the 80's.