[Stormieweather]

TW: There are a great deal of people/companies that make a ton of money off of our military and our wars. It is in their interests that we be constantly fighting somewhere.

In 2012, the association representing makers of predator drones, AUVS, listed “Global Conflict – particularly U.S. and allied nation involvement in future conflicts” as one of the major drivers of “market growth.” In the boardroom, they’re calculating how much war they’ll need in order to make a profit next year.

War

The [defense] sector has leaned Republican in the past, but ultimately its contributions tend to go to whoever is in power.After the 1994 Republican takeover of Congress, the sector began to give over 65 percent of its contributions to the GOP. However, midway through the 2010 cycle, Democrats received 57 percent.

During the last two decades, the sector has contributed a total of $150.8 million, with 57 percent going to Republican candidates.

The sector also has a formidable federal lobbying presence, having spent $136.5 million in 2009 -- down from a high of $150.8 million the previous year. In 2009, more than 1,100 lobbyists represented nearly 400 clients. The amount spent on defense lobbying and the number of lobbyists has steadily increased during the last two decades.

The sector’s biggest companies include Center for Responsive Politics “Heavy Hitters” Lockheed Martin, Boeing and General Dynamics, as well as Northrop Grumman and Raytheon.

The main issue for the defense sector is securing government defense contracts and earmarks – they are often quite lucrative -- and influencing the defense budget. Sector favorites include House and Senate members who sit on the armed forces and appropriations committees that oversee military and defense spending.

Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee in 2010, has received nearly $1.4 million from the defense sector over the course of his career, including $212,000 during the 2008 campaign cycle.

Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), another sector favorite who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, placed holds on dozens of President Barack Obama’s appointments in early 2010 to protest cuts in certain Air Force contracts. Shelby received nearly half a million dollars from the defense sector during the 2008 campaign cycle, and he has received $1.3 million during his career.

Lobbying

With this kind of money in the process, is it any wonder that Washington is corrupt?