Pentagon Approves New Jet While Americans Can't Afford Rent
Newsweek heralds the Pentagon's approval of another 'next-generation stealth fighter jet' as if it's a boon for national security. This isn't news; it's a press release from the military-industrial complex. Remember the F-35 program? A 2023 GAO report found it still hasn't met its full combat capabilities despite a price tag that ballooned from $233 billion to over $400 billion. Meanwhile, across
the aisle, funding for critical domestic programs—like universal healthcare or housing initiatives—conveniently 'lacks budget.' This isn't about defense; it's about quarterly earnings for Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. How many 'next-generation' jets do we need before we invest in the next generation of actual people? We're apparently too broke for schools and hospitals, but never for another
multi-billion dollar weapon system whose primary beneficiaries are corporate shareholders and the politicians who take their 'donations.' One might wonder why a 'stealth' fighter is constantly announced publicly, unless its true target audience is the average taxpayer's wallet, not some distant adversary.