How does our Military spending compare to other countries? We are off the charts.
The U.S. alone spent 39% of the entire world’s military spending in 2013 — more than $600 Billion. That’s actually down from the 46% share the U.S. spent in 2011. The next biggest spender was China at only $112 Billion. And they have 4 times as many people as we do!
Now I think security is an important priority, but it is not the only priority at the expense of all else. Similarly, I have an alarm system on my house, but I don’t have round-the-clock security guards or an alligator-infested moat. Preemptive wars and nation-building are perhaps beyond the scope of reasonable security efforts. And certainly beyond our means.
What else could we have done with that money? What’s the trade off? What could we afford to do if we cut the military industrial complex by even 25%?