The redistribution of wealth in US Military Spending Research Paper

The redistribution of wealth in US Military Spending - Research Paper Example In addition to investing in sectors such as education, health, food etc, the government also spends a fortune on funding military services, which are highly important because the overall safety of the country and its citizens rests within the hands of the military personnel. However, the present scenario puts forth a dilemma to the US government, that is, whether to decrease military spending and undertake consecutive risks involved or increase military spending and contribute further to the decline of the economy as well as the deteriorating standard of living of its citizens. Since sectors such as education and health are more productive in promoting personal development among citizens, thus in turn boosting the economy and resulting in further development of the country through lesser inequality in wealth distribution, it becomes clear that the US government should cut back its military spending and invest the wealth of the country in these productive sectors. It is a fact that th e military of any nation is responsible for protecting the citizens as well as the country from both internal and external threats. Thus, it is acknowledged that the country deploys a large number of personnel for military requirements in terms of air force, navy force as well as ground force. Moreover, in the same context, the government of the country makes huge investments in order to support various military operations, provide exceptional training to the troops, fund different endeavours that come under its programs etc. However, despite the fact that it is an absolute necessity to provide for the country’s security and the citizen’s safety, there is indeed a thing such as overspending for military, especially in the case of developed countries like the United States. Contrary to the government’s view of still supporting military expenditure in the present milieu, the American citizens have expressed in a recent nationwide survey conducted by the ‘Cen ter for Public Integrity’ that in order for the country to revive from the current deficit, the government needs to â€Å"cut the defense budget deeply† (Smith, 2012, p. 1). It is due to conspicuous wastage of the nation’s wealth through military, that the government is unable to fully contribute towards economic growth, as well as fulfil the very purpose for which it was established- safeguarding the interests of the citizens and ensuring the welfare of human beings. Furthermore, if the government funded more money for sectors dealing with aspects like education, healthcare, employment, food etc, the country could actually make a difference in its wealth distribution and gradually bridge the gap between the rich and poor sections of society. Thus, it becomes clear that the American government should focus on productive sectors rather than military and simultaneously it should decrease its military expenditure in order to redistribute wealth in the US in a more ideal way. The primary responsibility of the government should be to provide the citizens of the country with basic amenities such as food and shelter. However, the US government is intent on according the highest priority to military warfare as was revealed by its expenditure of â€Å"$737 billion on military defense†