Topic: Military Spending

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2018, a massive 786-page document, authorizes continued funding for global military operations. Recent hearings revealed that the United States currently has troops on the ground in at least 19 different countries. The bill serves as the primary mechanism for the government to maintain its expansive war-making capabilities and international military presence.

Jimmy Dore criticizes the media for scapegoating Jill Stein for the 2016 election results. He notes that the Democratic Party recently approved a $700 billion military increase instead of funding student loans or healthcare. He references "Idiocracy" as a documentary of the present and praises Bernie Sanders for pushing "Medicare for All."

Brown addresses criticisms of public banking as "socialist" by pointing out that the U.S. military is already a massive socialist entity funded by taxpayers. She cites Costa Rica's decision to abolish its military and nationalize its banks as a successful alternative. The segment concludes with an explanation of how private banks, rather than the government, create the majority of the money supply through debt, forming a non-competitive cartel.

A debate regarding the psychological impact of researching conspiracy theories suggests that while ignorance can be blissful, knowledge is essential for societal change. One perspective argues that some individuals are not ready for the "advanced evolution" of facing dark truths about government and military actions funded by taxpayer money. The counter-argument posits that truth must be faced collectively to be changed, though individuals must choose to "wash themselves" in that truth.

The group compares the current state of the United States to the fall of the Roman Empire, citing overstretched military spending, polarized politics, and a failing industrial base. They criticize globalism for forcing American workers to compete with low-wage foreign labor and accuse "job creators" of outsourcing industries to maximize corporate profits.