Defence resembles a security guard who does not stock shelves or sell goods but protects the business that does. Governments pool resources for services such as infrastructure, justice, emergency response, and collective security rather than to earn a profit. Individuals cannot efficiently purchase national defence on their own, which makes it a public responsibility. The historical reference to monarchy and feudal obligation leads to the same strategic point: credible military strength is intended to deter attack and preserve the peace in which prosperity is possible. American defence spending also distributes contracts and employment around the country, giving the budget a domestic political constituency beyond its strategic purpose.
Notable Point · 49:30-53:01
Why defence spending resembles a public service
A supermarket-security analogy explains why defence may look unproductive in a budget while still protecting the conditions that let society function.