Congress funds U.S. military-industrial complex — but not the troops

I would like to comment on Jean Halsey’s letter titled “Our military deserves better” (March 24). First, I applaud her and her group that sends care packages to those who are serving our country. It’s great to see someone acting instead of doing nothing but complain. Secondly, according to the website National Priorities Project, in 2015, 54 percent of the $1.1 trillion discretionary budget was allocated to military spending. That’s about $600 billion.

Ms. Halsey refutes the fact that this amount of spending equals the next eight countries combined (it’s actually nine) by saying we’re using our military to protect them! Nos. 2 and 3 in military spending are China and Russia, together totaling about $300 billion. I’m not sure we are doing much in the way of protecting those nations.

Maybe what we have is a priorities problem. The military branches will always want newer, faster and deadlier ships, planes and tanks to maintain our position of might in the world.

Congress has rarely been shy about underwriting the military-industrial complex. It’s truly a shame that we don’t better support our military men and women (other than with lip service) during and after their service to the United States.

This story was originally published March 28, 2016 at 5:46 PM with the headline "Congress funds U.S. military-industrial complex — but not the troops."