U.S. Military Spending and the Industrial Complex Explained

The United States' military-industrial complex drives excessive military spending, prioritizing war over critical social needs.

### The US Military-Industrial Complex: A $813 Billion Behemoth
* 💰 The United States requested **$813 billion for military spending in 2022**, with Congress approving **even more than requested**.
* 🌎 The US has a significant global military presence, with around **750 military bases in 80 countries** and troops in up to **150 countries**.
* 🏭 The military-industrial complex involves close relationships between the government, military, and defense industry, with **incentives for all parties to increase military spending**.
* 🔄 Lawmakers receive campaign contributions from the defense industry, while military personnel often transition to **defense industry jobs** after retiring.
* 🔒 The defense industry is incentivized to make money, leading to the production of **more weapons** and **potential conflicts of interest**.
* 🚫 Critics argue that the military-industrial complex prioritizes military spending over **important domestic issues like education, healthcare, and infrastructure**.
* 👥 President Eisenhower famously warned about the **military-industrial complex** in his farewell address, highlighting its potential **negative impact on society**.
* 🗳 Ultimately, it is up to Congress, and by extension, the voters, to address and potentially **dismantle the military-industrial complex**.

Who’s blowing stuff up? I’m Mr. Beat, and it’s well-known that the United States spends more money on its military… BY FAR… than any other country in the world. In fact, 40% of all military spending around the entire world is done by the United States. It spends more money on its military than the next ten countries COMBINED. And it’s been this way for a lonnnng time. More than 80 years. Since World War Two, the United States has spent the most money on its military. Even after the Cold War ended in 1991, the United States was like, “let’s just keep spending a bunch of money on our military.” In fact, let’s spend MORE. On March 28, 2022, President Joe Biden asked Congress for $813 billion in military spending, and Congress was like “what the heck?!?

That’s way too much money! We can’t afford that! What about inflation? Nah, just kidding, Congress not only approved $813 billion in military spending, but it gave President Biden an extra $45 billion that he DIDN’T ask for. To put that in perspective, $45 billion is more than twice as much as it would cost to end homelessness in the United States. This year, President Biden has asked for $842 billion in military spending, and he’ll probably get more than he asked for again. And that’s because military spending is one of the few things that tends to be bipartisan, meaning…both Republicans and Democrats in Congress generally are cool with this massive spending, despite one recent poll showing that 35% of Americans say the United States spends TOO MUCH on its military. So why DOES the United States spend so much on its military?

First of all, because the United States is often the world’s police. The American military controls around 750 military bases in at least 80 countries around the world. It has troops in as many as 150 countries. Some of these are countries where it has military bases might surprise you. For example, did you know it has a military base in Honduras? Also, did you know it has 120 bases in Japan alone? In recent years, the United States has spent tens of billions of dollars maintaining JUST THOSE MILITARY BASES IN JAPAN. The governments of all these countries where there’s American military bases are mostly cool with it. After all, they’re getting extra security with an American military presence, and often for free. However, as documented in this classic book, Blowback by the late Chalmers Johnson, many of the local residents DON’T want foreign troops in their backyards.

Regardless, for at least 75 years, most of the world has just accepted and even welcomed the fact that the United States is often the world’s police force, the country that seemingly steps in to put out all the fires in the world. Not only that, but it has formal treaties that make it obligated to step for the defense of at least 51 countries around the world. Others argue that a huge American military budget is necessary to “spread democracy” or “defeat authoritarianism” around the world. Notice how I put those in quotes since often the American government is, in reality, often just preserving authoritarianism and hurting democracy around the world through its military actions. Even others say a huge military budget is needed to counter the growing military threat and aggression of Russia and China. Then again, many argue that the growing military threat and aggression of Russia and China is BECAUSE of

American military interventionism around the globe, but ya know… However, there’s another, much more nefarious reason why the United States government spends so much gosh darn money on its military, and that’s the military-industrial complex. Because data protection is so important to me, I’m a VPN fanatic. I’m obsessed with VPNs. I can’t stop thinking about them. I dream about them… EVEN WHEN I’M AWAKE. So yeah, boy was I excited to come across Adguard VPN. AdGuard VPN has been around for more than 13 years in the VPN business… for real. Oh, so I must be memorable, emotional, inciting to action, and not just state dry facts. (sigh) Ok, let’s do this! (emotionally shouting for the rest of this) Its built-in ad-blocking function doesn’t force you to install additional tools and allows you to block malicious trackers. AdGuard VPN allows you access to more than

1,000 servers in more than 65 locations around the world. It even has website exclusions, which means you can turn it off for specific websites! AdGuard offers a 75% discount for a 2-year VPN subscription plan and sells it for $71.76, but my viewers can get an 83% discount by using promo code MRBEAT. Hey, the promo code is automatically attached to the link in the description of this video and pinned comment, by the way. That’s only $48.92. This offer is limited, so act now! (back to being calm) Thanks to AdGuard for sponsoring this video. Ok, so what IS the military industrial complex? The military industrial complex describes how a military, government, and the defense industry all work together since they all benefit from each other. It’s often represented by this iron triangle. Oh, uh, iron triangles are triangles made of iron.

Yes, yes. Wait, no…no. Oops, I meant to say iron triangles are triangles that demonstrate close, mutually supportive relationships between those in the legislative branch, executive branch, and special interest groups or industries. So here’s the military-industrial complex iron triangle thingy, at least in the United States. Up here representing the legislative branch is the United States Congress, who provides the funding for military spending in the country. Down here, representing the executive branch, is the Department of Defense, made up of the military itself and the part of the iron triangle that actually GETS the money to spend. Over here, representing the special interest groups or industries part, is the defense industry, the military contractors, the corporations like Lockheed Martin and Boeing that produce weapons. Remember, we all respond to incentives. Yes, even you, John. The military-industrial complex is an example of what’s known as a conflict of interest.

or a situation in which people who are supposed to be working on behalf of the public instead let their own personal incentives guide their decisions, which makes them unreliable. For example, if a politician makes a lot of money in the coal industry and then proceeds to vote against any bill that potentially hurts the coal industry, that’s a conflict of interest. Let’s look at the incentives in the military industrial complex (pointing). The lawmakers are incentivised by campaign contributions from the defense industry. In the United States, lawmakers spending more money on the military usually means they’ll have an easier time getting re-elected, not due to voter support….hahahahaha….but due to corporations and interest groups funding their re-election campaigns. They also are incentivised to get weapons produced in factories in the districts or states they represent. They are incentivised to build military bases in the

districts or states they represent. The military is incentivized, obviously, to get more money for itself, but also for political support. Many lawmakers and members of the military also get jobs in the defense industry after they retire. And vice versa! Lobbyists from the defense industry often find themselves becoming lawmakers. In politics, this phenomenon is often called the revolving door. And finally, the defense industry is incentivized to, uh, make money. Duh! As I hinted at earlier, military industrial complexes can occur and often occur in countries around the world, not just the United States. It’s just that the United States, uh, ya know, is most well-known for it. It was in the United States, after all, that the term “military industrial complex” first became widely used after President Dwight Eisenhower popularized it in his Farewell Address on. Not only did he popularize it. He talked trash about it!

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence—economic, political, even spiritual—is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources, and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military–industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist. Now, keep in mind that while Eisenhower WARNED against the military-industrial complex, he also thought that building up a strong military was still a good idea. Also, remember that military spending ain't just about weapons. Much of it is spent on people,

paying the salaries of and providing services for the fine folks of the armed forces, their families, and those who work with them. So why should YOU care about the military industrial complex and not are about Pokemon instead? (turns) Keep in mind you can care about both. Well, while the military industrial complex literally employs millions of people and generates billions of dollars in revenue, it also has led to policies that prioritize military spending and the use of military force over arguably more important priorities like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. While the military industrial complex arguably helps national security, it also threatens it. You see, the more weapons produced, the more weapons are out there, and the more weapons that are out there, the more weapons are used, and the more weapons are used, the more people are killed. Alright, let’s stop sugarcoating this. The military industrial complex increases the

incentives for war. As long as people are going to be profiting from war, war will continue to happen, and the military industrial complex ensures people continue to profit greatly from war. If you pay attention closely, you’ll find that these corporations that produce weapons are often the biggest cheerleaders of war. Hmmm. Go figure! Originally, Eisenhower called the military industrial complex the military industrial CONGRESSIONAL complex, but he apparently dropped the “Congressional” part before giving his speech to not make anyone in Congress upset. Well, that was nice of him. But here’s the thing. Ultimately, if we want to get rid of the military industrial complex, it’s up to Congress to do just that. (turns) You see, Congress makes laws (turns) and they could literally make laws that limit corporate influence on themselves and the military. (turns)

But why would they do that? Why would they hurt themselves? (turn) Oh, they’d do it because YOU (pointing at camera) demanded they do it because guess what? YOU are the boss of politicians. You hire them, and you can fire them if they don’t do what you want. Now go vote, dadgummit! (catching breath) Anyway, uh yeah. So that’s the military-industrial complex. [Music] So what do YOU think? Is the military-industrial complex ruining society? Hey, let me know if you don’t mind. Also, if you want to learn more about all this, I highly recommend that you check out Blowback, that book I mentioned earlier, but also Why We Fight, a documentary that came out 18 years ago but surprisingly, and depressingly, holds up quite well. Thanks for watching!

The Real Reason Why the United States Is Constantly at War

Mr. Beat

The United States' Dominant Military Spending

The United States accounts for 40% of global military spending, spending more than the next ten countries combined.

This trend has continued for over 80 years, with military spending increasing after the Cold War.

President Biden's recent requests for military funding have been approved and even exceeded by Congress, despite some Americans feeling the U.

maintains a significant military presence worldwide, with bases in 80 countries and troops in 150, providing security to those nations but often causing unrest among local residents.

The United States as the World's Police Force

The United States has been seen as the world's police force for over 75 years, with formal treaties obligating its defense of 51 countries.

The country's large military budget is justified by the need to spread democracy, counter authoritarianism, and address the threats from Russia and China.

However, the military-industrial complex plays a significant role in driving the U.

military's spending, as the military, government, and defense industry work together for mutual benefit.

The Military-Industrial Complex Iron Triangle

The iron triangle consists of the legislative branch (U.

Congress), executive branch (Department of Defense), and special interest groups (defense industry) working together in a mutually supportive relationship.

This complex creates a conflict of interest, as lawmakers are incentivized by campaign contributions and job opportunities from the defense industry.

The phenomenon of the "revolving door," where individuals move between roles in the military and defense industry, further blurs the lines of accountability and influence.

The Impact of the Military-Industrial Complex

The military-industrial complex's immense influence is a new phenomenon in the American experience, affecting every level of government and society.

While it provides jobs and generates significant revenue, it also prioritizes military spending over crucial areas like education and healthcare.

The complex poses a paradox, as its focus on weapon production can lead to increased violence and undermine national security.

The Military-Industrial Complex and Its Impact on War

The military-industrial complex profits from war, with weapon-producing corporations often advocating for conflict.

Eisenhower initially called it the military-industrial congressional complex but dropped "Congressional" to avoid upsetting lawmakers.

Ultimately, it's up to Congress to limit corporate influence, and citizens have the power to demand change through voting.