Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Richard C. Cook's avatar

I don't buy it--blaming Putin for the invasion of Ukraine. The US started this war. You know that Dennis.

Expand full comment
Bill Astore's avatar

Dennis, the debt due to wars and overspending on "defense" is likely higher than $8 trillion when you consider that every year roughly 60% of federal discretionary spending is devoted to the national (in)security state. Think of the F-35, estimated to cost $1.7 trillion over its lifetime, or plans to build new nukes (the Sentinel ICBM, the B-21 Raider, and new Columbia-class subs), estimated to cost $2 trillion over the next 30 years, and all unnecessary since we already have over 5000 nuclear warheads and weapons.

Consider as well the cost of arming Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, etc. And the fact that the State Department is basically a tiny branch of the Pentagon. And how Homeland Security is basically a department of internal war and surveillance.

It wouldn't surprise me if roughly half the U.S. national debt can be traced to wars and militarism, with perhaps the other half due to bailing out banks and similar excesses of "capitalism," i.e. socialism for the rich.

The national debt sure isn't due to helping working-class Americans.

Expand full comment
87 more comments...

No posts