All capital invested in the military is waste as Veblen and Galbraith have pointed. It is the creative destructive aspect of capitalism as Schumpeter called it. Military spending destroys capital, both excess production and workers.
And government waste rises with the increase in investment in military spending. Investment in social programs on the other hand are attacked by the right as spending and waste rather than what it really is investment in social capital.
Ah the joy of being part of the NATO Military Industrial Complex.How much happiness does big money buy the military? A lot less than it hoped.
Even after Liberal and Conservative cash injections, the forces are struggling to rebuild and renew while fighting a very different and difficult 21st century war. Equally worrying for the department, the consensus that led successive governments to boost spending to modern highs is cracking as other political priorities emerge.
Senior government officials and academics confirm entrenched problems aren't evaporating with a budget that will top $18 billion next year, some 27 per cent higher than before 9/11, according to a report released this week.
Its highest since World War II and more than 100 times higher than federal spending to combat homelessness.
While our troops are fighting the war in Afghanistan, the defence department spent $32 million last year on -- furniture
SEE
The Tory Nanny State
Canada Celebrates Star Wars
The Budget Item Flaherty Forgot
State Capitalism Quebec Style
Defense Lobbyist Now Minister
Derek Burney Voice of America
Contracting Out Is A Crime
Guns and Butter for Conservatives
Liberals Military Heritage
Canada's State Capitalist Success
Job Protection for
Find blog posts, photos, events and more off-site about:
military, helicopters, commorants, Snowbirds, Tudor, aircraft, Military-Industrial-Complex, Liberals, Harper, Trudeau, Chretien, Mulroney, Conservatives, government, military-spending, submaries, SeaKing, helicopters, Armed-Corced, Canadian-military
more than 100 times higher than federal spending to combat homelessness
ReplyDeleteNumber of uses of the word "defence" in the Constitution Act of 1867: 2
Number of uses of the word "militia" in the Constitution Act of 1867: 2
Number of uses of the word "military" in the Constitution Act of 1867: 4
Number of the uses of the word "homeless" in the Constitution Act of 1867: 0
Economics evolved since 1867. There wasn't a CCF or NDP at that time, or socialism really.
ReplyDeleteI'm just sayin', the 1867 Constitution Act specifically says health care is a provincial responsibility, yet there's this little federal statute called the Canada Health Act...
================
Human capital (Nobel Prize of Economics awarded for this concept in 1960s to Theodore Schultz) is very important to mention in this context actually. Military weapons are basically a debt since they don't have have a "redeeming value", as compared to something like health care which capitalizes as years go by. Like how Japan and Europe were rebuilt after WW2, human capital, part of the Marshal Plan.
FACLC you can count amazing. The Constitution also fails to mention the CPR, the provinces of B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan, airports, airplanes, space travel, atomic energy, or trade union rights.
ReplyDeleteJohn; socialist parties and socialism existed in Europe since the revolutions of 1848
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteEconomics evolved since 1867. There wasn't a CCF or NDP at that time, or socialism really.
ReplyDeleteI'm just sayin', the 1867 Constitution Act specifically says health care is a provincial responsibility, yet there's this little federal statute called the Canada Health Act...
And this convinces me...of what, exactly? Did you think I was going to leap in defence of a federal program that violates in spirit if not in letter the BNA Act? Or jump up and down that now we have an NDP?
FACLC you can count amazing. The Constitution also fails to mention the CPR, the provinces of B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan, airports, airplanes, space travel, atomic energy, or trade union rights.
And coincidentally, I want the government in Ottawa to cease having anything to do with all of these!
Read my book, which gives a sobering fact example: one man's legally-required greed caused the US to spend billions on a completely useless (to the Airt Force's declared Mission)first dedicated atomic bomber, the Convari B-36 'Stick', and I show exactly how the Air Force Secretary and senior officers lied to discredit the competing Northrop B-35 Wing, ignoring its demonstrated-in-1948 Stealth. The story is filled with participating historical names and events. A few scenes, created by deduction of what should have happened but is either classified or lost, explain how our corrupted laws required rich corporate owners to be greedy at the cost of national security. This has only gotten worse in the last 50 years. Good Men, Do Something!
ReplyDelete