A single fighter jet costs more than four hospitals
Finance
While the average American pays $12,000 in annual federal taxes, much of that contribution bypasses local infrastructure to fund a global network of 800 overseas military bases.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II carries a lifetime price tag of $428 million per aircraft, a sum that could fund the construction and initial staffing of four full-scale community hospitals. This stark trade-off is the result of a federal budget where 24 percent of all tax revenue, roughly $1.16 trillion, is funneled into national defense.