The Immorality of Our Massive Military Budget

The United States spends some $522 billion on the military – at least half of our budget. Among the list of those countries that spend large amounts on the military, the United States ranks first – more than the next 14 countries combined.  China is second in the world; it spends $63 billion. Russia is third; it spends $62 billion. To put this in perspective, consider this: $30 billion is the annual shortfall to eliminate starvation and malnutrition globally; $12 billion is the annual shortfall to provide education for every kid on earth; $15 billion is the annual shortfall to provide access to water and sanitation; $23 billion is the annual shortfall to reverse the spread of AIDS and Malaria. For support and more information, see the Borgen Project.

Jim Wallis writes over at Soujourners that our budget is supposed to be a moral document. He deplores the President’s call to reduce the deficit without reducing the military budget. I have difficulty imagining a non-frivilous moral justification for this budget. With the exception of the far-fetched theology of the religious right, I see no religious views that could view this state of affairs without concern.

 I would be interested to hear why Obama regards the military budget as uncuttable. Is it political fear of a militaristic public? Is it the grip of money in election campaigns? Does he really think that every last penny of this budget is necessary to preserve “freedom and democracy” or the American economy? Does he think that American leadership requires being the world’s bully?

Clearly, any change must be powered by outrage from the grassroots. Wallis urges Christians to sign an electronic petition to be sent to the President. If any change is to come, grassroots organizing must come from many directions. Otherwise, we will continue to live as partners in the morally indefensible.

Comments

[Robert Hockett]

Many thanks for this very timely reminder, Steve, at a time when self-described 'conservatives' claim to be concerned about the size of the federal budget. One other thought, which of course does not in any way undercut the thrust of your point, but might be worth noting in any event: It is widely thought that China vastly under-reports its actual military and related strategic expenditures, and it might be that some degree of anxiety about 'the unknown' in this connection prompts at least some portion of US expenditures. Doubtless a much greater proportion of US military expenditure, however, is prompted by (a) a 'control freak' mentality pursuant to which policy-makers think it their role to social-engineer the domestic environments of other nations, and (b) the absence of much in the way of truly productive, employment-creating domestic investment, with the result that the military and the prisons become our versions of employment and housing programs.

All best,
Bob