What are your thoughts on the huge private American military manufacturers and contractors?

Huge multi billion dollar corporations that manufacture everything from missiles to tanks, jets, and ammunition, or the contractors that supply private armies and security forces, have significant incentive for their to be continued war. This scares me.

Why are these companies allowed to be privatized? Why is the government not responsible for ensuring that the goal of military contractors and military developers is not profit?

With such big companies how much of our politics do they control, and with the politics the leaders, and with the leaders the policies, and with the policies the globe?

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HoraceGreenley · 56-60, M

The government used to own much of the weapons manufacturing. The capacity was sold off after WWII. It is expensive to maintain this capacity.

Challenger1 · M

It is expensive, so where do you think the money is coming for these private companies to not only maintain but to also expand and bring in a substantial profit from it?

HoraceGreenley · 56-60, M

@MarsSword: Defense contractors also make civilian products. Besides the capital requirements for this capacity is huge. Maintaining this in peacetime is wasteful

Challenger1 · M

@HoraceGreenley: And we have had nonstop war...

Yes, they do, but that isn't where their money comes from. Would it not be better for the government to fund these capacities directly and maintain control? This would be cheaper on that scale than buying up sold product from these companies that make a huge product off of it?

HoraceGreenley · 56-60, M

@MarsSword: This decision has already been made. As I said the government used to own much of it. This country already used your model and abandoned it.

Besides using private companies makes technology transfer to the private sector easier.

Challenger1 · M

@HoraceGreenley: This is a decision that could be reversed if enough people cared. I am not saying that my idea is the best. I am just asking the question, "Are we comfortable with the knowledge that people who profit of of war have enough influence to make sure war continues to line their pockets?" With the thought kept in mind that our sons, daughters, brothers, fathers, mothers, and children bear the greatest cost of these wars. The deaths, wounds, and mental damaged suffered firstmost by the soldiers and then everyone who is in their lives.

Is that tech, tech we want to be available to private sectors?

HoraceGreenley · 56-60, M

@MarsSword: technology like the computer, Internet, WiFi, and velcro to name a few.

Challenger1 · M

@HoraceGreenley: Oh, I like you appreciate such technology and enjoy it. I do think that such tech should be shared, but there are some technologies that probably shouldn't be.