"….stressing the need for a closer partnership with them and pledging to work with the White House to secure steady growth in the Pentagon's budgets over time…."

appearently the pentagon also wants a reassesment……..upwards

are you hinting that the country that has the largest GDP (the US ) has either the right or the obligation to be the world's policeman?

what are you trying to get at?

Yes, what could possibly explain that ?

Ever heard of WWII ???

"Defense Secretary Robert Gates hosted a meeting with the nation's top defense company executives Wednesday, stressing the need for a closer partnership with them and pledging to work with the White House to secure steady growth in the Pentagon's budgets over time, according to his spokesman.

Gates's meeting was part of a day-long session between Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn, Pentagon acquisition chief Ashton Carter and the Aerospace Industries Association, the top trade group for American aerospace firms. The heads of the nation's top two defense firms – Lockheed Martin and Boeing – attended, said Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31482.html

Nobody is saying expand the role of lobbiests, what da king is rightfully saying decrease the size and power of government, and the role of lobbiests will also decrease, fewer fools following fewer dollars, just plain economics.

But again as a progressive marxist, you can not grasp the simple fact big government is corrupt and does not work. You and BLOMD, complain about big corporations, but what is the biggest corporation freaking federal government (I know it isnt a real corporation, but it is the only sector that is creating jobs, we are getting to the point where half the jobs are in government, where do you think the money to pay these people will come from, they dont create anything?) so what keeps the government from being as corrupt if not more so than the corporations you hate, nothing in fact their are more checks and balances for corporations, lawyers, customers, news, than their is for government, especially when most of the media is in bed with the progressives in government (both parties).

Our founders fought for a small un-intrusive government, but 100 yrs ago, progressives have tried and succeeded in changing our nation, and changing our written history to support their agenda, it is time that history be re-examined and the progressive marxist movement be held accountable for the damage, and distruction of the people of this nation it has caused.

Japan is #2 in GNP rank at 9% world GNP and it isn't even on the list of the top 5 for military spending

Germany is #3 in GNP at 6% and they are also not in the top 5

I'm not sure what one has to do with the other

To put your military spending numbers in a bit of perspective, the USA is 30% of the world's GDP, and according to your source, spends 41% of military spending. It's not as out of line as you portray it, especially when you consider we're fighting two wars right now. We also offer defense to France, the UK, and several of the next ten countries on your list.

Because I made the point that more government control equates to more lobbyists by defintion, I'm making the exact opposite point to what you claim.

As for lobbyists controlling politicians, that's the fault of the politicians, not the lobbyists.

And if you don't think the Democrats and Republicans are for themselves, you better think again. At least corporations create jobs without forcibly stealing the wages from the taxpayers. That gives them a leg up on the government.

Global Distribution of Military Expenditures in 2008

US………….. 41%
China………….5.8%
France………..4.5%
UK…………….4.5%
Russia………..4.0%
next 10 countries combined…….21.1%
rest of world…18.6%

http://www.globalissues.org/article/75/world-military-spending

these big government advocates…….those would be defense contractors?