Another Reason to Thank Your Veterans

The military spending in our country gets a lot of attention from both ends of the political spectrum.  This year, the total Defense budget in the U.S. was up 3% to $685,000,000,000.00

Yeah, that's a lot of zeros.

But, regardless of how you feel about the money we allocate to national defense, you can't deny the amazing technology that the military has given us.  I just read an article about the Army's development of tooth-cleaning gum, expected to reach the private sector soon, and that may be one of the least significant advancements that the military has brought us.  For example, most of the research done to make nuclear power possible was done during the Manhattan Project in World War II.  The project basically created the city of Oak Ridge just outside of Knoxville, TN - the town grew to 25 times its pre-war size between 1942 and 1943 - and has allowed for continued research in many fields of science and engineering to flourish in East Tennessee.  The military had a hand in the evolution and growth of the internet, GPS, jet engines, digital photography, and radar to name a few.

Due in part to the fact that the military in our country has such a large budget, they have been able to invent many significant technologies that are now in use every day in the private sector, and thanks to all the dedicated soldiers, scientists, engineers, and other creative minds in our country, I think the military will continue to churn out the newest and greatest technologies.  I'm a day late for Veteran's Day, but I'd like to thank all our current and past members of the US Military for their hard work, devotion, and service to our country and advancing it on every front.