The US Congress has recently passed a record $858 billion defense act for the fiscal year 2023

Some critics have questioned why Americans are accepting this out-of-control military buildup and spending, which far exceeds the defense budget of any other nation in the world. They argue that such a massive allocation of resources to the military-industrial complex undermines the social welfare and infrastructure needs of the American people, as well as the global efforts to combat climate change and promote human rights. They also point out that the US involvement in foreign wars and conflicts has often resulted in more violence, instability and suffering for the people in those regions, rather than peace and democracy.