I would never work for fossil fuel companies, or alcohol or tobacco or marijuana businesses. I refuse to work for insurance companies, in the business of denying claims to as many victims as possible. I happen to know that healthcare middlemen just suck money out of and exploit the terrible system we have here.

I have mixed feelings about pharmaceutical companies, because as a biologist, I know that they create and bring to market life-saving drugs without which millions of humans would die; that one drug costs on average 1-2 BILLIONS to develop; but the high prices they maintain prevent low-income people from benefiting from these drugs, unless additional social net programs are put in place to lower drug costs. I know that in the European Union, where drugs are capped in price to stay affordable, some American meds don't see the light of day, because they're just too expensive for their universal health care systems to support... so no country has yet reached a reasonable middle ground regarding affordable yet innovative medications.

In view of all these other business practices, helping the government build a comprehensive defense (in the largest sense of the word, because all government contracts have generous margins vis-a-vis usefulness/cost ratios and general cronyism) doesn't seem overly unethical, unless you labor under the belief that peace is achieved by canceling the army and canceling the weapons. No. Peace is only kept, in a very temporary way, by having a more modern army and more efficient weaponry than the other guy. You build it and you hope not to have to use it.

Anonymous wrote:What exactly do you have against DoD, as compared to any other federal agency, pray tell?

She sounds racist.

What exactly do you have against DoD, as compared to any other federal agency, pray tell?

You make it seem easy and common. For the average person (white male or not), it's anything but. To get ahead in any profession, you need drive, hard work, social skills, connections, intelligence, knowledge, etc. There are many thousands of people working in Defense contracting, and very few who clawed their way to the top.

As to whether it's ethical? I would call them opportunists. If the government is dumb enough to throw ginormous wads of cash at people, why would they turn up their noses? The rot comes from the top.

Anonymous wrote:How do you feel about people who make a career and become millionaires through DoD contracts?

Would you do it?

There are some DoD contractors that receive hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts and many white males that become millionaires in that ecosystem.

Would you do it if you had a chance?

I’m curious if people have moral stances that prevent them from working in certain areas.

I do, but DOD is not that area for me. DOD has to exist; it does things I disagree with but also things I support. I don't have any reaction to someone saying they work for DOD.

My exH is one of these. He’s a middle earner who’s still carrying a bag as a traveling salesman at 50. Overweight, miserable, usually drunk, and overall a buffoon with a miserable life to eke out his $250k-$400k and “platinum” Marriott status.

Anonymous wrote:Companies make millions off DoD contracts, but are there really individuals who make that much as contractors?

Lots of consultants did during GWOT. Once another war kicks off full scale it will ramp back up.

Yeah, I work at a big defense contractor that makes money off of DoD contracts. Maybe the CEO is that highly compensated but the thousands of us who aren’t the CEO have nothing to do with making millions of dollars.

Companies make millions off DoD contracts, but are there really individuals who make that much as contractors?

I could have easily gone down that route but morally didn’t pursue it. I have no regrets. There are other ways to make money and money really doesn’t buy happiness once you reach a certain income level.

Welcome to DC.

It bothers me more that DOD seemingly is unscathed when all of the social services are cut and contractors for say HHS are truly suffering right now. But, this is how stuff gets done for the government

How do you feel about people who make a career and become millionaires through DoD contracts?

Would you do it?

There are some DoD contractors that receive hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts and many white males that become millionaires in that ecosystem.

Would you do it if you had a chance?

I’m curious if people have moral stances that prevent them from working in certain areas.