Switzerland Questions War Profiteering, America Still Funds It
Bloomberg points out that Swiss voters are balking at the F-35 fighter jet deal after Lockheed Martin's price hike, potentially adding $1.6 billion to the cost. Sensible people in a neutral country appear to understand fiscal responsibility. Meanwhile, in the land of the free and the home of the brave, our 'representatives' rarely meet a defense budget they don't love, often despite ballooning
costs and underperforming hardware. This isn't just about Swiss cheese; it’s about the systemic influence of military contractors on global policy. Lockheed Martin, for example, spent $13.5 million on lobbying in 2023 alone, according to OpenSecrets.org. One might charitably call this 'advocacy,' but when billions in taxpayer dollars flow directly to companies who heavily fund political campaigns,
it looks suspiciously less like a good deal for the public and more like a payout.