Another Reason to Support the War in Ukraine

I just found out. The military-industrial complex has come up with a new reason Americans should support Ukraine in its war with Russia: It’s good for the US economy!

I learned this while listening to the radio last week. According to whatever numbskull was speaking, industrial production in the US defense and space sector has increased almost 18% since Russia invaded Ukraine two years ago. And that’s why Biden’s new “supplemental defense bill” should be supported by every congressperson – even those Trump-supporting crackpots that don’t think we should be supporting another Cold War proxy contest.

Here’s how they explain it: Out of the $95 billion the bill’s sponsors are asking for, 65% – about $61 billion – will flow back to the US by way of paying for US-manufactured military products.

That’s good, right?

Of course, there is the inconvenient fact that 100% of the $95 billion will be 100% funded by adding to the federal debt (already at a mind-boggling and record-breaking $33 trillion). And 100% of that will be paid back – either by inflation or recession (more likely both) – by American taxpayers, most of whom couldn’t find Ukraine on a map.

If you care to read more about the bill, US spending, and the political arguments, here’s a piece from the WSJ that was published on Feb. 18.