It’s not just peace-niks anymore. Main Street begins to recognize the insanity of military spending, despite having gained from it. As my cousin Ben pointed out, congress makes sure to parcel each military program out to as many states as possible, so that everybody gets a piece of the pie. This, in turn, insures that elections depend on military-related jobs to keep the whole absurdist, expensive, soul-killing and deeply unethical parade going.
I’m happy and, frankly, surprised to see that this post originates from businessinsider.com. (Can’t remember where I first saw it, but it’s making the rounds now, six months later).
13 Facts About Military Spending That Will Make Your Head Explode
by Ujala Sehgal |
Nov. 12, 2010
The economy is tanking, schools are underfunded, people don’t have jobs.
Let’s spend more money on war!
America spends more on its military than THE NEXT 15 COUNTRIES COMBINED
Image: The U.S. Army via Flickr
Source: Global Issues
In 2007, the amount of money labeled ‘wasted’ or ‘lost’ in Iraq — $11 billion — could pay 220,000 teachers salaries
Image: www.flickr.com
Source: About.com
America’s defense spending doubled in the same period that its economy shrunk from 32 to 23 percent of global output*
*This fact originally said defense spending had doubled since 2008.
Source: National Defense Magazine
The yearly cost of stationing one soldier in Iraq could feed 60 American families.
Image: Chrysaora via Flickr
Source: About.com
The total known land area occupied by U.S. bases and facilities is 15,654 square miles — bigger than D.C., Massachusetts, and New Jersey combined.
Source: Brookings
Each day in Afghanistan costs the government more than it did to build the entire Pentagon
Image: robsv via Flickr
Source: Great Buildings, Arms Control Center
In 2008, the Pentagon spent more money every five seconds in Iraq than the average American earned in a year
Source: About.com
The pentagon budget consumes 80% of individual income tax revenue
Image: alancleaver_2000 via Flickr
Source: Washington Post
Two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Defense Department still has more than 40 generals, admirals or civilian equivalents based in Europe
Image: DTP999 via Flickr
The amount the government has spent compensating radiation victims of nuclear testing ($1.5 billion) could fully educate 13,000 American kids
Image: Mad House Photography via Flickr
Source: All Business
The Pentagon spends more on war than all 50 states combined spend on health, education, welfare, and safety
Image: Howard Davies-Carr
Source: Intel Daily
The U.S. has 5% of the world’s population — but almost 50% of the world’s total military expenditure
Image: MShades via Flickr
Source: Lexington Institute
So where do they get all that money?
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/facts-about-defense-spending-2010-11?op=1#ixzz1Q0gog5Xz
