Defence Spending To Go Up ?

[Eric Cartman]

I never really understood the race to claim x% of GDP spent on defense, seems like the pr wing of some arms firm manufactured it into existence as a standard and probably can't believe their luck that everyone fell for it.

Surely you just spend what you need, why does your gdp going up or down change that.

I would just stay out of all of it if i was running the country (don't worry lads, its not likely to happen).

[jon1959]

I never really understood the race to claim x% of GDP spent on defense, seems like the pr wing of some arms firm manufactured it into existence as a standard and probably can't believe their luck that everyone fell for it.

Bullseye!

[JamesWales]

It's because it's a NATO commitment and we are members of NATO. We are far closer to it than other, in fact I think we already surpass the 2% target.

[Eric Cartman]

It's because it's a NATO commitment and we are members of NATO. We are far closer to it than other, in fact I think we already surpass the 2% target.

Yeah I get that and it's intended to give a whiff of equity but it's an inherently stupid way of determining use of taxpayer funds.

Do we do it with anything else?