While true, there’s also the fact that we have a… different approach towards warfare. In the case of a run-up to or break out of a serious shooting war, Congress would pull a WW2, tell all the companies renting military production facilities to get making ammo, and tell every civilian company with the capacity to make war materiel “Here money. You take.” The idea is less that we need huge stockpiles and more that we need the productive capacity to maintain a war in the long-term.
Honestly, we probably need more stockpiled even with that in mind, but still. Suppose there’s no getting away from the fact that graft and shiny new projects are more sexy and exciting than having breathing room in the case of an actual war.
While true, there’s also the fact that we have a… different approach towards warfare. In the case of a run-up to or break out of a serious shooting war, Congress would pull a WW2, tell all the companies renting military production facilities to get making ammo, and tell every civilian company with the capacity to make war materiel “Here money. You take.” The idea is less that we need huge stockpiles and more that we need the productive capacity to maintain a war in the long-term.
Honestly, we probably need more stockpiled even with that in mind, but still. Suppose there’s no getting away from the fact that graft and shiny new projects are more sexy and exciting than having breathing room in the case of an actual war.
You’re a very cool person to talk to. Never thought of it like that
Always happy to share the bits and pieces I’ve picked up over the years!