Economic Update: The U.S. Military Machine & What It Costs

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[EU S13 E44] The U.S. Military Machine & What It Costs
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We hope you all enjoy this week's episode of Economic Update featuring updates on Tesla vs the Swedish Unions, a teachers strike in Portland, Oregon, "food insecurity" in the U.S. today, how the King of Britain has been secretly profiting from assets of the dead and a Michigan "entrepreneur" failed in effort to buy electoral defeat of Rachid Tlaib.
In the second half of this week’s episode, Prof. Wolff interviews Norman Solomon on his latest book, "War Made invisible: How America Hides the Human Toll of its Military Machine".
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And as always, we thank for your attention, support and solidarity.
The d@w Team
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[@TennesseeJed]

..but we can't afford education, housing and healthcare.

[@bargdaffy1535]

No, The United States can "afford" any thing they want, the Ruling Class just don't want to. They profit off of all of those things.

[@lesliestenta3084]

Every time I had to pay my phone bill , my hair is on fire. I’m from Hawaii and my phone bill was 179 a month, late charge, over data charge. We only have a few cell phone providers. I live in Thailand now , my monthly phone bill is around 18 dollars a month, no late charge, no over data fee. There is a whole floor of cell phone providers In Thailand. My intranet service in Thailand is much cheaper and faster and more reliable in Thailand than Hawaii

[@tau5571]

​@@lesliestenta3084179USD per month is crazy. In CA monthly payment is about 50USD for T-Mobile and Verizon. In China their cell phone fees are way more cheaper, 10USD per month is enough.

[@carolynbrzezinski5779]

Excellent! Every American needs to listen to this -especially the interview with Norman Solomon.

[@kaceykelly7222]

It is still shocking to me 😢that we Americans hear these figures and do nothing How can the average taxpayers demand that this stop??

[@SimonAshworthWood]

Vote Green Party and get other US citizens to do the same.

[@janelliot5643]

Vote third party. Democrats and Republicans are both sold out

[@absstevens7464]

Obviously Americans believe that the benefits of US gangsterism bring them more benefits than the huge costs, which are felt more keenly by their victims. Whether they are correct to think that is another thing, but as long as they believe it they won't be demanding it stops. Such are the values of the civilised world.

[@MicheleLLOYD-bk2mt]

Cos yanks are puppets and zombies. No backbone. Else you’d see ACTION not words…

[@dformell]

A general strike. If everybody stops working the 1% won't be making any money will they?

[@cheri238]

Thank you, Professor Richard Wolff.

[@MrDXRamirez]

Wonderful guest speaker...so clear and concise is his objective critique of the cost of American imperialism on the working class. I would like to have heard his views on how to make a revolution in a capitalism fully de-regulated.

[@Buffy-ip4io]

We don't need another revolution. It's just a revolving door always repeating history. We need a evolution. To evolve past selfishness, greed, corruption and profits. For a better Earth and everything on it. I'm not holding my breath. I have zero faith in humanity

[@omayarushd6509]

Norman Solomon is another pillar of consciousness and the spelling out of truth and justice!

[@hollyshutta3738]

I'm an Army veteran and have seen so much horrible results in our country which are Nothing compared to what we have done to millions of innocent, decent people in nearly countless countries and not for anything other than money and power.

[@gregwang8628]

Do you believe there is the thing called collective karma?

[@janiesteinberg5240]

It is truly sickening to know of all the misery so a few scumbags get very wealthy. What a shame that we are helpless in this.

[@uncleshamus3451]

Thank you for being here✌️

[@nevilleheffernan2362]

Always enlightening. Factual. Engaging and optimistic. It’s difficult to believe it is allowed to be produced in the US. FOLLOWING FROM Australia. ( A Marxian Economist)

[@JoseLopez-ys2oz]

Tyranny is illegal in a democracy. A revolution is needed, whenever tyranny becomes law. Here are some more examples of United States’ (US) tyranny: The US is responsible for both wars in Ukraine and Israel. The US refuses to comply with the almost unanimous consensus of the international community to immediately stop its illegal blockade against Cuba. And, the US consistently refuses to comply with 42 United Nations resolutions asking it to immediately return Puerto Rico’s sovereignty to the Puerto Ricans. Only 40% of US citizens are satisfied with our government. Thomas Jefferson said that “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government…” We the people must take charge!

[@vigorberg4798]

Worlwide global warming emergency needs to confronted by all U.N. members. Less to military industrial complex and more means for stabilising the climate & our future.🌻

[@kosmic8204]

Wow another awesome episode. Thank you professor Wolff. This is great. Please keep up the great work.

[@lars277]

We could pay for Universal Healthcare for all in the USA, Mexico, and Canada with what we pay for our military.

[@janelliot5643]

No, for what our military spends, we could pay for Universal Health Care for the entire world populace of 8 billion

[@jgalt308]

the Federal budget for 2023... Other mandatory spending...27% Social Security...21% Non-defense discretionary...16% Medicare...13% Defense...13% Medicaid...10%

[@danwelterweight4137]

​@@janelliot5643that is so so true.

[@jgalt308]

@@danwelterweight4137 Doesn't look true...

[@MegaPapa8888]

Very depressing hearing our defense budget is misused. Our other priorities are ignored and neglected.

[@1LaOriental]

You mean war budget, right?

[@TacticalMayo]

​@@1LaOrientalgood

[@gregwang8628]

The irony is defending who from what? Or testing vast ordnances on other people?

[@user-ur2om5po3e]

Thank you for illuminating our knowledge of eco-politics.

[@mamajojoful]

It is absurd and preposterous to call America a democracy.

[@TacticalMayo]

You're also a tankie so whatever.

[@ShaopengChen]

The US is democracy? hahahahahahahahahahahahhaahhahahah

[@moemimouni679]

WELL…IT DEPENDS ON OF THE TIME OF THE DAY. AND HOW MUCH MONEY U HAVE.

[@benangel3268]

It's a military oligarchy

[@Ahng_Noying9574]

@@benangel3268 Eh, more like an oligopolistic plutocracy.

[@TomRivieremusic]

Elon Musk is up to a stone wall with the union in Sweden. The best in the world for democracy.

[@nakkeboelle123]

Thanks! Thanks a lot for your contribution to inform people of what is going on. ✊

[@vigorberg4798]

Informative work that helps people understand conscience and truth-consciousness.🌻

[@jcehlert]

The DoD has yet to pass an audit. Never let anyone say passing an audit is why we can't fund social programs.

[@hollyshutta3738]

Wow! Amazingly good news. Thank you for everything you've helped.

[@profe3330]

It's hard to really wrap your brain around numbers like those in any discussion of military spending. Thank you both for helping people understand the magnitude of this murderous mess.

[@TacticalMayo]

God bless America 🇺🇲

[@benangel3268]

@TacticalMayo America is certsinly in dire need of God's blessing

[@TacticalMayo]

@@benangel3268 you're a tankie.

[@Joyous765]

What a great and powerful interview- if only the American public could get so informed and care to spread the news and organize around this very lethal and toxic system! So hoping for the very best for all of us in these challenging times…. May lovingkindness and empathy prevail! ❤

[@briananderson8428]

Great guest, Dr. Wolff. But I would have outlined the expenses completely differently and without the numeric mistakes he made in his oral delivery of military budgets in the US each year. Nonetheless, I totally understand the gist of this issue. Many thanks!

[@NapaValleyVegan]

The British Monarchy is the biggest grift perpetrated on the UK citizens! 👑 Unbelievable 😮

[@drakekoefoed1642]

russia's invasion of ukraine complies with international law. the maidan coup, no.

[@cjclark1208]

You think US and UK care about laws? Only if they’re in favor of them.

[@christophercelmer405]

Considering all the money that goes to the military, it would be nice if they could get the engineers to help begin climate change prep. Need more walkable cities, trolleys/trains, more housing not only for us but also the large flux of refugees we are expecting to see.

[@hollyshutta3738]

Absolutely!

[@kylezo]

man i love this program even though it makes me feel old af. i love how richard is constantly like "why do i still have to do this we should be past this shit by now" lmao

[@TacticalMayo]

We're not going to take any of this communist garbage in the United States.

[@kylezo]

@@TacticalMayo I'm sorry Mr. Mayo, did you have something specific to share?

[@TacticalMayo]

@@kylezo hope you're ready for Thucydide's trap.

[@kylezo]

@@TacticalMayo I'm ready! Don't keep me in suspense, mayo.

[@TacticalMayo]

@@kylezo it's coming don't worry. I'm enlisting for it so I hope to see all you tankies there.

[@hollyw9566]

It's not only the PRICE of the food, it's the quality. The produce quality where I live in the Midwest is appallingly bad! Meat too. (It's a good time to be a vegetarian, but you've got to eat canned veggies, because fresh are both poor quality and expensive beyond belief.) Last night, the bread shelf was literally half empty. I said to my partner, "This looks like pictures you see of food shelves in places where we're sanctioning. I believe our own government is sanctioning us, the people."

[@macfrernan5093]

Thanks!

[@pipster1891]

Liked the very subtle _Mr Smith Goes to Washington_ reference.

[@nkjgcg43548]

Dr. Wolff, here in Brazil, the biggest communist propagandist that we have is Ian Neves from história publica, it would be great to see a colab from democracy at work and história publica

[@paulkillinger5915]

This can be traced directly back to a US Supreme Court decision of 2011 in the case "Citizens United vs FEC," which has subsequently allowed corporations and the very rich to donate unlimited campaign contributions to federal elected officials. The result has been that our members of Congress now care far more about their donors' interests than those of their own constituents!

[@gregwang8628]

This is the democracy 😂

[@GaryG63]

Those judges were purchased

[@georgekostaras]

Thank you for the content

[@Glumclam]

Thank you Professor Wolff.

[@TacticalMayo]

Commie

[@charleskesner1302]

Excellent show. Thanks

[@meiriversofborg]

great ep

[@sizzla123]

Appreciated.

[@clarkdavis5333]

Great piece.

[@kathleenhillock9366]

Revolutionary change. Sounds about right.

[@audrajones]

I depend on you. Take care of yourself, Prof Wolff. Wish I could give more.

[@jetstream3528]

Excellent show

[@spectrum8085]

Thanks

[@andrzejfrancikiewicz9964]

Professor Wallf very smart this country will have problem😢

[@hermanmunster714]

Iappreciate the Professor's show and his interviews, thank you. I would like Professor Wolff to interview Snoop Doggy Dog and Martha Stewart. Not kidding, for real, I would pay an online ticket fee to see. Please consider it.

[@Spock_Rogers]

I resent all the violence done in the name of our country to profit the very few. It's shameful that we have allowed these horrible characters and corporations to have so much power. I would much rather be known as a country which spreads diplomacy, education, and health. The common good has been undermined by a privileged, greedy, narcissistic few.

[@robertreilly4946]

Another great episode.

[@julieweiner1623]

Goldman Sachs announced the United States is doing great and we are in for a soft landing 💀💩

[@tschorsch]

They are correct in the sense that the economic numbers look good. They're not taking in account the increased inequality in the US and how much it has affected the bottom 50%. Their clients don't care about that. The overall economy is doing better but the average person is doing worse, although better than they would be doing under a Republican administration. Billionaires have made sure that the Republicans won't do anything (or worse) and that the Democrats will limit what they will do to help.

[@danielhutchinson6604]

When we consider how many Citizens in the USA could be helped by the $15+ billion that is spent on the Electoral Industry, the benefits seem pretty impressive? The Business that consumes more in every election cycle is diverting money from the Children who appear to be facing hunger due to an imbalance of spending by the Oligarchy that operates the US Government. How many Children could be fed by $15 billion?

[@TacticalMayo]

It won't matter once we go at it with China so just enjoy the time we have left.

[@danielhutchinson6604]

@@TacticalMayo The efforts to degrade Russia and China since the 2014 announcement of the loan program by the New Development Bank, seem to reflect a growing recognition of the fact that close to 70% of available resources on this planet, now are involved in trade within the BRICS association. As the US invests billions to threaten the principal Members of the BRICS alliance, the cost of the threats appears to increase. In 1967 the US began to understand that the cost of a Colonial Conflict was more than the Treasury could afford, the efforts to exit the Vietnam affair began to become clear. The move to create a conflict in the Middle East that moves attention to an area that US Naval Power could find access to, may seem to project power better than the hundreds of billions of Taxpayer Dollars directed at Ukraine. The cost of maintaining Colonial Military Bases in many areas of the world has become an expense that appears to provide some Americans with a comfortable lifestyle, but has exceeded the costs that profits from exploitation can possibly ever cover. The USA appears to no longer be capable of economic support for the conflict.

[@iankain7106]

The arms industry persists in part because the manufactering of weapons is spread among enough districts to make it a de facto jobs program.

[@gregwang8628]

Weapons are the only thing US can make, none other!

[@bobbart4198]

... The cost of food and basic housing should serve as the baseline to judge the state of any Country's economy ... clearly, until the majority of citizens are eating enough to stay healthy and living INDOORS with heat & power - ALL citizens in fact - NO COUNTRY can make claim to a " Great Economy " ... it's not JUST your 401k that matters, it's the health, safety and well being of the " least " of you Nation's people ! ...☯

[@donald7212]

Im glad im old 65 now and wont live to much longer its sad to see what weve lost now and what were now speeding towards recklessly on auto-drive mode preset at the factory for your convenience its so 😢😮good that others can see this now.......

[@mansourshapouri1874]

Mr. Wol: wish you were the president. Please take care and God bless you forever!!!!!❤❤❤❤❤

[@elimaurer9491]

US Unionization is great for Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam.

[@CA999]

Can you please interview Robert McChesney? Norman Solomon would know him well.

[@dr.zoidberg8666]

It may yet cost everything if the US does not get comfy with the idea of losing its position on top. Let's hope we don't upend the board if we can't win.

[@TacticalMayo]

We🇺🇲 would rather die ☢️🫠😶‍🌫️☠️

[@garycooper4910]

As long as the people are ignorant enough to fight in the wars of the profiteers

[@gregwang8628]

They actually are 😂

[@geraldmantel4955]

Public subsidy, private profit. The new sports stadiums are bad enough ... but this?

[@marksmit8112]

Truth can be depressing, enjoyed the first half more. Interesting once again. Thanks

[@hhheee3939]

Swedes dont mess around. Elon is not wise to say the least.

[@nancyhirsch7768]

Prof wolff, Hat's off to your tone and delivery on subjects like Mr. Musk and his anti-Union thuggery. Keep it up. I and other need a laugh during these very dark times.

[@TacticalMayo]

You won't be laughing much longer.

[@durtyredone]

We are going down looking people!!! We need to act!!!

[@hermanmunster714]

Ive always been intrigued by how pro sports athletes will form player unions, conduct strikes, get wage increases and its all good. But if low paid wage workers go on strike, well they have called down the thunder, dont you know, and how dare they!

[@zoofeather]

Guns or butter. Eisenhower warned a post WWII America - his Iron Cross speech

[@floroquibuyen9044]

May we have Prof. Richard Wolff's source for the food insecurity statistics? I've checked the figures of the USDA and the figures are lower--13% for 2022, compared to Wolff's 17%. In the FEEDING AMERICA website, the percentage for 2022 is 10.23%--which is 1 in 7 compared to Prof Wolff's 1 in 6. On the other hand, the URBAN INSTITUTE report states that "Between December 2021 and December 2022, the share of adults reporting food insecurity in the last year increased from 20 percent to 24.6 percent."--This is higher than the figures cited by Wolff. So, where did Prof Wolff get his figures? And which report is the most reliable?

[@BasedLongshoreman]

I believe norman meant to say adam schiff

[@PlantPoweredRadio]

Plant based offers massive solutions for food insecurity. And health. And environmental health. And compassion.

[@khanniniah]

Dear Dr Wolff It's not very difficult to solve the food insecurity issue in the US. Just get Americans to relearn and readjust their food preferences : from beef and steaks - to ham and pork chops. With the imminent invasion of super wild pigs from Canada it would be the best time to change their meat- eating preference and simultaneously keep the population of wild pigs in check!

[@hollyshutta3738]

Indeed.

[@rgfarm2010]

Love you wolf

[@JamesBrown-ux9ds]

The US Military machine costs about more than one trillion US Dollar per year, millions of peoples livelyhoods abroad and at home and USA her future as a Nation. Still small change for some. With the collapse of the Roman Empire 475 ac the situation of the gaulish and german tribes improved. Even fair and just empires have disappeared in the past. Possible solutions: - A. Choose to be a very popular, just and sustainable empire, - B. Choose different

[@TacticalMayo]

You have only two choices, the United States stays number one or Thucydide's trap. Trust me you do not want Thucydide's trap.

[@JamesBrown-ux9ds]

@@TacticalMayo - I basicly disagree - there are always more than two solutions. One more could be: The US acts rationaly, reforms and steps down without a war. (Distruction instead taking up competition for a possible win with peaceful means is always second class only. Maybe Tennis could become used as an example - a deuce is for the moment and the game stays intact. To destroy the court or shoot the competitor is not for high classed or civilizations. America choses her fate - and history makes her touchstone.

[@yunko9369]

@@TacticalMayoSo staying number needs to bomb another country that is not at war with the US? Just an example. An estimated hundred thousand Cambodians were killed by the US massive and secretive bombing under Nixon. Perhaps you can justify this by saying that country is a threat to the US dominant in the Southeast Asia.

[@gregwang8628]

Subdue without fighting - The art of fighting 😂​@@TacticalMayo

[@TacticalMayo]

@@gregwang8628 yeah I keep telling yourself that 🤣

[@graemetunbridge1738]

Notice that GM and VW are closing factories and moving to China. I think wages protection needs to be at the government level, not the individual factory level.

[@gregwang8628]

No they are not, US doesn’t allow them to do that anymore, they are forced to move out of China😂

[@rgfarm2010]

Love wolff

[@davesiegal3592]

The "Military Industrial Complex" and "War Economy" have been known about for decades. What impact has it had? What do people really think about it? What do they care?

[@qjtvaddict]

It creates a homeless population and mass shooters

[@gregwang8628]

Vote 😂

[@soberanobrasil9370]

What a nightmare...😢

[@macrosense]

Our economy does not really function without this spending and its associated spending. America wants Cold War spending without paying for it with the progressive taxes of yesteryear. Curtailing military spending would require shifting that activity into other activities. At the end of the Cold War two nuclear submarine contracts were cancelled. Eventually at least one of those contracts was reinstated. It takes years to train up the workforce to produce nuclear submarines. America had no cargo ship industry to speak of. I suppose many of the skill sets could have been applied to building water treatment plants, sewage treatment plants, and the pipes and systems to transport all of that water and sewage. In the interim you could just keep a portion of the nuclear submarine workforce busy building submarines at a slower pace, so that the skill set is maintained if they have to build more such things at a faster rate later

[@janiesteinberg5240]

The general population loves weapons also. Several have told me that their guns keep the government away yet the government is in everything we do

[@crisismanagement]

And it will change!

[@TacticalMayo]

Nope

[@reginaerekson9139]

MSNBC and PBS have wonderful charts with exact dollar amounts- Show me what we’re actually working with! The USA shouldn’t be a game of poker - damn gambling addicts!

[@samkg1964]

To for compensated mynemar services of military

[@robertcarr1231]

I need assistance on arguing a substantial pay raise in our collective bargaining agreement union upcoming negotiations. I am an employee and plumber at the University of Rochester River campus

[@GehresWeed]

Thanks Professor. We will not fix healthcare until we fix our food delivery system that provide real food.

[@jimsummers487]

Why is it that union workers can afford food and yet pay taxes ?

[@STScott-qo4pw]

Your comment is unclear. Please explain.

[@tschorsch]

Because they're more likely to be paid a living wage. Not all American union workers are that lucky, but they are a lot better off than they would be without a union.

[@geraldmantel4955]

Amerika!

[@pipster1891]

Musk may have been better off having Tesla in the UK, where years of anti-union legislation (and continuing) has made actions like the unions are doing in Sweden illegal.

[@smonkedweed7414]

FIRST

[@OlafsonN]

Huge tax breaks for political donations are not a good idea.

[@player627]

That’s why there’s no tax deduction for political donations in the US.

[@saramuhumphries9225]

👍💐

[@SimonAshworthWood]

~$1.25 trillion.

[@aintdatsnipes177]

DOD's budget is way way way moar than a Trillion dollars per year, more than half there budget is hidden off book, that's why they fail every single audit they've ever had.

[@carsonwilcox3827]

"Fuck the King!" - Sandor Clegane

[@JohnDoe-bb1ib]

Really. Your saying pols are bought and sold…. Where have you been the past 200 years

[@allahdinosamo7654]

US military machine does amazing things , for example , they spent two trillion dollars and 20 years to bring Taliban back in power first expelling them from power 😂

[@TacticalMayo]

You're laughing but wait till you see how bad things get with China.

[@reginaerekson9139]

14:20 last but not least- the pattern repeats around the globe. Be careful who you emulate, you could be complicit for your own demise!

[@cev12]

Why do they keep saying "oligarchy"? More plainly, we have a plutocracy.

[@JP-fb8ni]

You're right. It does sometimes feel like our society is controlled more by the rich (a plutocracy) rather than a small group of people (an oligarchy). But these two are actually deeply connected. You see, our society is in fact divided into two main classes: the working class and the capitalist class. The capitalist class are those who control the means of production, like factories, businesses, etc. They're essentially the wealthy, rich people. Now, you see where this is heading? Even if the term oligarchy refers to power being in the hands of just a few people, these few are in fact those who control a massive chunk of the wealth. That is to say, they're from the capitalist class, making it sort of a plutocracy, as you put it. Does that help clarify things a bit?

[@kylezo]

Why use more word when fewer word do, right buddy?

[@beatrizyannicelli4513]

and how does the economy of the rest of the world pYA FOR AUCH EXPENCE TOO?

[@TomRivieremusic]

Americas motto: Gulity until Rich.

[@Papawcanner]

The sooner the worlds biggest egomaniac Elon Musk goes away the better .

[@donald7212]

They say the gold on the gates of Buckingham palace is from dead pensioners teeth......😅😊😢😂😊

[@troywalkertheprogressivean8433]

Or stolen Venezuelan gold

[@venkataRamanaKoduri-ri7ck]

👍💐🙏

[@balozhende5727]

Fascism is here!

[@qjtvaddict]

It was here for decades

[@balozhende5727]

Yep!@@qjtvaddict

[@ronniecheong2146]

The united states practise democrazy n hypocrazy oops i spelt the words wrongly