Should it be illegal for weapons manufacturers to profit during wartime?

Question

Maybe it would be ok to profit, but that profit would have to include restrictions, such as a limit on the amount of profit. Say anything over $1 million. Meaning that when a profit of $1 million was reached, weapons are sold to the US Government at cost. Cost, of course, would include all costs to produce the weapons.

I'll bet that each war would end after the first day as the weapons manufacturers are certainly able to skim a million a day off the conservative estimate of $500 million a day it costs to do war.

Answer 1

If they are owned by in large part by the President's family (Carlysle Group) and the president has been found to be promoting a war on false grounds (Niger yellowcake,etc.) and punishing those who tell the truth by revealing troop positions of their family members( Plame,etc), then I guess it's OK, particularly if the Vice President's corporation (Halliburton) , which was the only US corp. doing business with Saddam Hussein during the embargo period has had major portions of military logistical support outsourced to it(in spite of never having provided those services before) and has been found to be ripping off the army on the number of meals it claims to have served to GI's (support the troops!) and is still being given no bid contracts, then, hey . why not. I guess anything goes. Screw the liberals (Anybody here know what liberal REALLY means?)

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with capitalism. These gun manufacturers are free to supply weapons to anyone they choose. There is something called supply and demand. The gun companies have an obligation to provide their owners with as much profit as they can. They have no obligation to limit profits when demand is high. That is the time when they should raise prices and maximize profits. If you want to save the country money start your own non-profit gun manufacturing company. I'm sure Uncle Sam will appreciate that. I hear the same argument about oil companies and their obscene profits. Here's a tip....stop driving cars or consuming oil and they will no longer have those profits. This country was built on capitalism. Our way of life is a direct result of that economic system. This liberal mindset is going to destroy this country should it take hold with a majority of Americans.

Answer 3

It doesnt matter that the manufacturer profits durring war time, after all it only costs about 15 dollars to make the side arm for the military, and the main weapon costs just 5 dollars more. What makes war so expensive is the training for the war, the bombs, the fuel for aircraft, its the outside things that cost so damn much, not the normal weapons. Thats why I say damn the man, damn him I say. And the law that says he can.

Answer 4

Profit is Good thing. Only in failed communist states is profit illegal. Defense of our nation calls for the making of weapons and our free market economy calls for well run companies to make a profit. Restricting profits insures the job will not be done, you will lose your liberties and way of life, America will be defeated by freedom hating fascists, and the world will slip into a state of poverty, ignorance and disease. Is this really what you want?

Answer 5

You're lost and dreaming of some kind of world where the best and the brightest (like yourself) can somehow magically conjure up a perfect and "fair" world that will make all the good people happy all (or most) of the time.

As you grow older and spend more time in the real world you'll realize that ideas like the one you've presented are about little or nothing.

Answer 6

Of course not. that's what they are in business for. However it is illegal to raise your profit margin in order to take advantage of a war.

David K: As a former employee of Beretta USA, who manufactures the side arms for our military, I can tell you that your estimate of $15.00 is not even close to being in the realm of realism.

Answer 7

I think government owned companies should be the only ones allowed to do this. In this way, the money goes back to the people.
If a private corporation does this, than a handfull of people get rich, the rest die poor.

Answer 8

Why would anyone go into the weapons business if there was that restriction? They would go into making planes and ships instead and there would be no weapons.

Answer 9

No. i do not want authorities intervention into company income for the period of conflict or every time. there is already lots of authorities regulation on businesses. no longer all civilians make sacrifices for the period of conflict time. So why could businesses be compelled to?

Answer 10

This is the problem with liberalism. You are always so intrigued by the prospect of micromanaging every element of our lives and the world we live in that you lose sight of the goal.