SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Whereas some argue, for example, that single-payer healthcare is impossible, those same voices remain "pretty quiet on the F-35 being a money pit." (Photo: Forsvarsdepartementet/flickr/cc)
Nation "Too Broke" for Universal Healthcare to Spend $406 Billion More on F-35
There is always another $27 billion lying around, it seems, when Lockheed Martin needs more money for expensive weapons system
Jul 10, 2017
The nation's most expensive weapons program isn't done showing U.S. taxpayers how much it will ultimately cost them, with Bloomberg reporting Monday that the F-35 fighter jet budget is now predicted to jump by a cool $27 billion.
"Think about [F-35's] $405 billion price tag when a family member dies of a preventable disease. Get angry."
Though the estimated future cost of the program had previously hovered at a mind-boggling $379 billion, an updated draft that could be submitted to Congress as early as today will reportedly exceed $406 billion--a nearly 7 percent increase.
The new cost increases may come as a hit to President Donald Trump, who has bragged about his ability to get weapons manufacturers to offer the Pentagon "better deals."
Rob Garver, national correspondent for the Fiscal Times, made the point this way:
Others simply pointed out how ridiculous it is that a weapons program so fraught with failures is allowed to receive such outlandish funding when lawmakers--mostly Republicans, but also many Democrats--continue to argue that the nation is "too broke" to increase spending on social programs that improve education or healthcare.
\u201cWe got fucking liberals out here saying single-payer is impossible but remaining pretty quiet on the F-35 being a money pit.\u201d— \ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51 (@\ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51) 1499712714
\u201cThe F-35 will never, ever be used. Think about it's $405 billion price tag when a family member dies of a preventable disease. Get angry.\u201d— \ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51 (@\ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51) 1499712714
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
The nation's most expensive weapons program isn't done showing U.S. taxpayers how much it will ultimately cost them, with Bloomberg reporting Monday that the F-35 fighter jet budget is now predicted to jump by a cool $27 billion.
"Think about [F-35's] $405 billion price tag when a family member dies of a preventable disease. Get angry."
Though the estimated future cost of the program had previously hovered at a mind-boggling $379 billion, an updated draft that could be submitted to Congress as early as today will reportedly exceed $406 billion--a nearly 7 percent increase.
The new cost increases may come as a hit to President Donald Trump, who has bragged about his ability to get weapons manufacturers to offer the Pentagon "better deals."
Rob Garver, national correspondent for the Fiscal Times, made the point this way:
Others simply pointed out how ridiculous it is that a weapons program so fraught with failures is allowed to receive such outlandish funding when lawmakers--mostly Republicans, but also many Democrats--continue to argue that the nation is "too broke" to increase spending on social programs that improve education or healthcare.
\u201cWe got fucking liberals out here saying single-payer is impossible but remaining pretty quiet on the F-35 being a money pit.\u201d— \ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51 (@\ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51) 1499712714
\u201cThe F-35 will never, ever be used. Think about it's $405 billion price tag when a family member dies of a preventable disease. Get angry.\u201d— \ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51 (@\ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51) 1499712714
The nation's most expensive weapons program isn't done showing U.S. taxpayers how much it will ultimately cost them, with Bloomberg reporting Monday that the F-35 fighter jet budget is now predicted to jump by a cool $27 billion.
"Think about [F-35's] $405 billion price tag when a family member dies of a preventable disease. Get angry."
Though the estimated future cost of the program had previously hovered at a mind-boggling $379 billion, an updated draft that could be submitted to Congress as early as today will reportedly exceed $406 billion--a nearly 7 percent increase.
The new cost increases may come as a hit to President Donald Trump, who has bragged about his ability to get weapons manufacturers to offer the Pentagon "better deals."
Rob Garver, national correspondent for the Fiscal Times, made the point this way:
Others simply pointed out how ridiculous it is that a weapons program so fraught with failures is allowed to receive such outlandish funding when lawmakers--mostly Republicans, but also many Democrats--continue to argue that the nation is "too broke" to increase spending on social programs that improve education or healthcare.
\u201cWe got fucking liberals out here saying single-payer is impossible but remaining pretty quiet on the F-35 being a money pit.\u201d— \ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51 (@\ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51) 1499712714
\u201cThe F-35 will never, ever be used. Think about it's $405 billion price tag when a family member dies of a preventable disease. Get angry.\u201d— \ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51 (@\ud83d\udc51 \ud835\udd7d\ud835\udd94\ud835\udd9e\ud835\udd86\ud835\udd91 \ud83d\udc51) 1499712714
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.