[briandear]

Let's pretend the US ended all military spending. Would you think that wars and defense would just become irrelevant? A strong military prevents wars. Would Taiwan be free of it weren't for all those "flying killing machines?" Would South Korea or Japan even exist if it weren't for the military strength of the US? The main reason we didn't go to war in Europe against the Soviets was because of all of those 'rusting tanks.' Communism didn't fall because of luck; the US outspent and out produced the Soviets and bankrupted them. Threats to freedom still exist and they aren't stopped without diplomacy backed by the threat of force.

Most of the most significant innovations of modern history came about because of free-market capitalism, not because of governments -- with very few exceptions.

The role of government isn't to innovate -- it's to maintain an environment that makes innovation possible.

[celticninja]

I would say that many significant innovations have been driven by the military applications. Rocket technology and drones are 2 that come immediately to mind but I am sure there are many others. Not defending the military industrial complex though.

[ant6n]

Responding "I wish the world had less military" with "the US needs military"

[trhway]

>Responding "I wish the world had less military" with "the US needs military"

The less military world has the lesser military US needs.