[bobthechef]

Without defense, the others cannot exist. Without defense, you cannot have a space within which you can securely do other work. So it cannot be a matter of competition but prioritization.

Of course, we can criticize the massive amount of funding that goes to military contractors and the like (Eisenhower did). That's where the devil is: the military-industrial complex.

[Ericson2314]

"Defense" is the worst euphemism for the military. I wish it was still called the Department of War, which is honest.

No one is saying abolish the military. In in fact we are saying some forms of state–military complexes might be good.

It's the idea the state-driven industry must be tied to defense and not anything else that's the problem.