I mentioned in my last blog post that Microsoft benefits from federal largesse. I thought I would expand on that.
There is a mechanism in government spending that most Americans are not aware of. The United States hands billions of dollars to foreign countries, which gets labeled “foreign military financing.” So, Israel gets roughly $3 billion a year (of your money) and Egypt gets about $1.3 billion a year (likewise). Now for the hook: Israel has to spend about three-quarters of that on US maintenance contracts and upgrades and further equipment. “Here’s a dollar, you have to give my friend 75 cents of it.” Egypt has to spend ALL of that money “on American hardware and associated services and training,” according to a Congressional Research Brief.
The interesting feature of this arrangement is that the federal government is handing out billions of your dollars and then that money gets siphoned back into the pockets of the major defense contractors. In other words, THE GOVERNMENT IS SENDING YOUR TAX MONEY (THROUGH AN INTERMEDIARY) STRAIGHT TO LOCKHEED, BOEING, AND RAYTHEON. They really appreciate it. I’m just kidding: they don't.
An F-15 fighter jet costs around $100 million. Saudi Arabia buys these things from the United States like popcorn; 70 percent of Americans oppose supplying the Kingdom (source: Eurasia Group Foundation). However, Boeing doesn't share the American people's objections.
These jets come loaded with the latest software and technology. Guess where that comes from.
The above mechanism is ludicrously referred to as “free-market capitalism.” I might call it a shakedown.
And you’re miffed that the food-stamp user at the grocery store is tossing rib-eyes in the cart?? The nerve of some people—and here I mean the folks on the board of directors at General Dynamics. The rich are so smart and work so hard.
