Trump Demands Trillions for Military, Cites Perpetual 'Dangerous Times'
Donald Trump's call for a $1.5 trillion military budget, as covered by Newsweek in 2018, positions it as a necessary response to 'dangerous times.' This isn't a new script; presidents from both parties have echoed this sentiment, ensuring that the revolving door between the Pentagon, defense industries, and lobbying firms keeps spinning. While schools crumble and infrastructure crumbles, defense
giants like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon post record profits. (Lockheed Martin's 2023 revenue: $67.6 billion, up from $53.8 billion in 2018). Funny, isn't it, how 'dangerous times' always seem to necessitate more F-35s and fewer social programs? It's almost as if the 'danger' is a perpetual motion machine, conveniently generating endless demand for the products of those who fund political
campaigns. One might wonder if the real danger is not an external threat, but a domestic one: the unchecked growth of military-industrial complex power. Perhaps if our times were less 'dangerous' we could afford things like healthcare, education, or even an end to homelessness.