Facts to Consider

As Americans, living in a democracy, it is crucial to review where OUR tax money has gone and what our priorities are.  Below you will find some recent facts from a variety of sources that show how much our nation has given to the military industrial complex, a term coined by President Eisenhower in his farewell speech in 1961.  President Eisenhower warned us of the dangers of this section of our government.  Perhaps it is time to heed his warning.

·         The US military outspends all other countries globally – more than the next 9 countries combined representing 39% of the world’s military spending.  (2021)- Institute for Policy Studies

·         The US is the top leader in arms sales worldwide. 39% of the total share of exports of major arms by the 10 largest exporters (2017-2021) - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

·         The US has more permanent military presence abroad than any other country.  U.S. military presence abroad encompasses at least 700 locations in around 80 foreign countries/territories. – Statista

·         The US has launched at least 251 military interventions between 1991 and 2022. – report by the Congressional Research Service (a US government institution) “Instances of Us of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2022”

·         Nearly half of the US federal discretionary spending is spent on the military. The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act passed a record $858 billion for national defense.  This was $45 billion more than the White House requested.

·         The combined inventory of nuclear warheads remains very high with 9 countries possessing roughly 12,700 warheads (as of early 2022).  Some 3,730 are deployed with operational forces and roughly 2,000 of those American, Russian, British and French warheads are on high alert. – Federation of American Scientists

And yet, though we are a powerful and rich country:

·         The income and wealth inequality is higher in the US than in almost any other developed country, and it is rising – Council on Foreign Relations – 2022

·         3.4 million more children are in poverty in February 2022 than in December 2021 – Center on Poverty and Social Policy (Columbia University)

·         According to the U.S. Department of Education, nearly 130 million American adults read below a sixth-grade level. -  USA TODAY March 2,2022

Compiled by Sonya Haynes