Do most Americans, including those in the military, know about the US's military-industrial complex?

Question

By that I mean do you realise the following:

A) the sheer size of the US military (as big as the next 15-odd countries in the world put together) - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_budget

B) the fact that in no other Western country will you find youngsters so dependent on the military for jobs....many of them will never have met someone in the military

Answer 1

The term, "military-industrial complex" was coined by Dwight D. Eisenhower (34th US President (1953-1961) in his farewell speech at President John F. Kennedy's inauguration. He was referring, not to the might of the US military, but to the machinery, defense contractors, weapons suppliers, intelligence agencies (CIA), politicians, etc. that drive the military to war and have vested interests (keeping cushy jobs and making money) in seeing America at war. He warned American people and future generations to beware of these sinister forces. Eisenhower should know what he was talking about ... 2 term president, 5 star US Army general , and Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe during WWII. Every American school child reads this in every US history text book beginning from about 6th grade.

Answer 2

During World War II the military-industrial complex was a full 40% of the US's economy. For the war on terror, the military is 4% of the US's economy.

During WW II US citizens paid up to 94% of their income as taxes, mostly to support the war effort. For the war on terror, the top tax rate is 35%, and only a small fraction of that goes to the military.

The US Army has less than a half million Soldiers. The Chinese Army has more than 5 times that. Yes, China is 4 times as large as the US, but it takes much more than 4% of the gross national product of China to support their military industrial complex. They choose to spend more (as a percentage), even though they are poorer.

Other countries - North Korea being a notorious example - also spend a greater portion of their total economy than the US does on the military.

So the US has a big military, and great industrial and research support. We're also one of the world's largest countries, and we can try to support freedom around the world because we have the best military that has ever existed - and that costs money. We think freedom is worth it.

Answer 3

Your B "fact" is fiction. Some western countries even practice conscription. Young Americans are not "dependent" on the military for jobs. Unemployment is near zero real unemployment in much of the country. This may come as a surprise to some, but many people join the military for other reasons because they prefer military service to other work and/or they have a desire to serve in the defense of their country.

Answer 4

If we didn't have a military that is this big (still only 7th largest in the world by size comparison) you'd need a larger one. The only thing that keeps some ambitious soul somewhere from trying the Hitler thing again is the fact that the U.S. will swoop down and wipe him off the face of the earth. Did you notice the size of China's military in that Wikipedia graph? Since nobody else apparently gives a damn about the rest of the world, the U.S has to incessantly put out the little fires (granted, we start some every now and then). The UN can't even police itself, so right now it is hamstrung by its own corruption. That leaves us to do it. Nobody else has the budget or the capability. You should be relieved that we handle it, otherwise the burden would fall on Europe. I expect the Brits would pull their share, but the rest would just gripe about it and find a way out.

Answer 5

Yes we do know about the US military industrial complex. It's way of a healthy economy and stable jobs that come with it. There is nothing wrong. See other country's like Russia, North Korea, China etc. Military power was alway's about creating jobs, empowering the industry.

Answer 6

Your mixing apples and oranges.

You use the military budget figures and try to correlate that to how many citizens in the military.

Yes the United States spends the most in absolute dollars on the military.

But the US is 26th in military spending as a percentage of GNP.

The United States is 8th in the total size of the military.

The United States is 53rd in the percentage of citizens in the military.

So maybe you should do some more research.

Answer 7

How did this question bypass from military to politicians. do not blame the military for the themes that politicians reason. we ought to follow the orders that politicians supply us and there is rather some optimal protection prisons interior the U. S. already so what are you even speaking about? perhaps you should position off the medication and the voices on your head will end telling to jot down stupid stuff on the internet

Answer 8

Just to give you a clue on B) you do realize the unemployment in many western country's is hovering above 20% and are dependent on government handouts. Take a look at Europe.

Answer 9

Im laughing at your supposed information. The US Military is the best trained and smartest that has ever existed. The average education is higher per capita then civilians. And the fact that one doh-doh says they can't think for themselves tells me that he isn't well educated. As stated by the Navy Veteran, I'd rather have a volunteer American Military person next to me then anyone else in the world!

Answer 10

It is sad that so many young people have to resort to the military for jobs and sad that most military families have to live on credit because of the low wages. I do think most people realize these facts but I don't think most people realize at what cost we maintain them.