Yes, I agree, but I would say that there is another aspect to the idea of debt and it is called ‘neoliberalism’ with its drive to financialise every aspect of human life. So, “Of course, in the long term, Americans suffer too. You don’t have enough money for roads and bridges, railways, healthcare, education, homes, and even school lunches.” In this instance, it is privatising and outsourcing private services to private corporations. As for arms... I quite liked an analysis by Andrei Martyanov, who showed that big-tech arms are expensive not only BECAUSE of high-tech but because now the USA has only 5 monopolistic military corporations, etc etc, etc. Anyway, thank you for your article.
I keep up on Martyanov. He is almost always right. And an excellent source. The US is an oligarchy. Russia is shaking off oligarchy-- certain in the area of defense industries. One can compare its development of the Su57 stealth fighter with the F35. Russia sees the Su57 as a project to develop new technologies that are not necessarily practical yet -- but need to be tested. So it has manufactured just a few. The lessons it has learned can be applied here and now in the Su30 series and air defense -- not 20 years from now and a few billion dollars later as is the case with F35.
The issue for Martyanov is the unchecked billing of military corporation and the stress on high-tech that is not necessarily applicable to military needs. I wish I can find his discussion. Thank you for your analyses.
Yes, I know....it is a challenge to go through his talks as well, but he knows what he is talking about. In his latest talk, he addresses the issue - the USA military spending and the production of military weapons, which is more about the system than the price of weapons. See here (around 20 mins) mark: https://youtu.be/ZySebizfU4E. 😇
Thank you. I listened to this. By coincidence I had just done a vo for SouthFront about defense industry profits. SF was commenting on a WSJ article. That prompted me to look at defense industry financials. Very interesting. Thanks for the link!!!
The F-35 reminds me of that North American car, whose name I completely forget that made a Lada look good. Back in the 1990's a bunch of owners were going to demonstrate on Parliament Hill about how bad the cars were. They marshalled in Hull. The demo was a bit late as a couple of cars caught on fire coming across one of the bridges.
When I heard that we were purchasing these airplane-shaped-objects all I could wonder was, "Massive political pressure or hefty bribe at NDHQ?" Both?
I read the analyzes of US "experts", where they point to GDP as a measure and the US military budget, which is the largest in the world. In the meantime, the unfortunates grin and show how big the Russian GDP is and how small the Russian military budget is compared to the USA. I'm laughing out loud, there was a time when I looked up to this country, but that's over, now I'm slowly starting to feel sorry for it, I remember the funny story about how NASA made such a big deal out of having to invent a ballpoint pen that works in space with a budget of millions, the Russian smiled one and took out his ten-cent pencil, which he slowly sharpened with his pocketknife and it worked! :) Here in Europe i'm still remember , when the USA was the subject of public ridicule when it turned out that the Pentagon was billed for $10,000 for a two-dollar hammer ! :) Meanwhile, with the Russians, the production of weapons is largely a state matter, if there is any profit from it, it enriches the state budget ! My dream that one day all weapon , drug , health , mining . energy and all the borse and all the banks become state property !
Yes, I agree, but I would say that there is another aspect to the idea of debt and it is called ‘neoliberalism’ with its drive to financialise every aspect of human life. So, “Of course, in the long term, Americans suffer too. You don’t have enough money for roads and bridges, railways, healthcare, education, homes, and even school lunches.” In this instance, it is privatising and outsourcing private services to private corporations. As for arms... I quite liked an analysis by Andrei Martyanov, who showed that big-tech arms are expensive not only BECAUSE of high-tech but because now the USA has only 5 monopolistic military corporations, etc etc, etc. Anyway, thank you for your article.
I keep up on Martyanov. He is almost always right. And an excellent source. The US is an oligarchy. Russia is shaking off oligarchy-- certain in the area of defense industries. One can compare its development of the Su57 stealth fighter with the F35. Russia sees the Su57 as a project to develop new technologies that are not necessarily practical yet -- but need to be tested. So it has manufactured just a few. The lessons it has learned can be applied here and now in the Su30 series and air defense -- not 20 years from now and a few billion dollars later as is the case with F35.
The issue for Martyanov is the unchecked billing of military corporation and the stress on high-tech that is not necessarily applicable to military needs. I wish I can find his discussion. Thank you for your analyses.
I finally sat down and started reading Martyanov's books. Some rants and bias but there is some good background material there.
Yes, I know....it is a challenge to go through his talks as well, but he knows what he is talking about. In his latest talk, he addresses the issue - the USA military spending and the production of military weapons, which is more about the system than the price of weapons. See here (around 20 mins) mark: https://youtu.be/ZySebizfU4E. 😇
Thank you. I listened to this. By coincidence I had just done a vo for SouthFront about defense industry profits. SF was commenting on a WSJ article. That prompted me to look at defense industry financials. Very interesting. Thanks for the link!!!
See the latest in Martyanov on a disparity between weapons and their price of manufacturing them: https://youtu.be/ZySebizfU4E
The F-35 reminds me of that North American car, whose name I completely forget that made a Lada look good. Back in the 1990's a bunch of owners were going to demonstrate on Parliament Hill about how bad the cars were. They marshalled in Hull. The demo was a bit late as a couple of cars caught on fire coming across one of the bridges.
When I heard that we were purchasing these airplane-shaped-objects all I could wonder was, "Massive political pressure or hefty bribe at NDHQ?" Both?
Glad you mentioned the bling surrounding the cars. Useless and over engineered for maximum profit.
The military take over of America for the last 50 years while crying aloud for democracy and freedom has poisoned the civil society to death .
If they expect for its abused citizens to pay for it they are in for a shock.
Perhaps being so brainwashed they won’t mind at all?
I read the analyzes of US "experts", where they point to GDP as a measure and the US military budget, which is the largest in the world. In the meantime, the unfortunates grin and show how big the Russian GDP is and how small the Russian military budget is compared to the USA. I'm laughing out loud, there was a time when I looked up to this country, but that's over, now I'm slowly starting to feel sorry for it, I remember the funny story about how NASA made such a big deal out of having to invent a ballpoint pen that works in space with a budget of millions, the Russian smiled one and took out his ten-cent pencil, which he slowly sharpened with his pocketknife and it worked! :) Here in Europe i'm still remember , when the USA was the subject of public ridicule when it turned out that the Pentagon was billed for $10,000 for a two-dollar hammer ! :) Meanwhile, with the Russians, the production of weapons is largely a state matter, if there is any profit from it, it enriches the state budget ! My dream that one day all weapon , drug , health , mining . energy and all the borse and all the banks become state property !