Defense spending

The United States spends more money on defense than the next nine largest spending countries combined. Is it possible that is one of the reasons why the US economy consistently out performs all others? Defense spending means building things and provides high paying jobs along with research in high tech areas which flows over into the private sector, the Internet being the most notable example. While NASA is technically not part of the Defense Department it is a government agency and has spawned many new technologies and many new industries. The military provides a consistent flow of trained people who move into private industry, the best example is air line pilots. The military is and has allowed many to receive the benefits of higher education. The military takes young men and teaches them to be responsible, promotes teamwork and build self-esteem which allows them to move more easily into the private sector. Other things being equal, industry leaders prefer to hire Veterans.