Thankyou Stuart for contributing this as we, the people move into a very uncertain 2017.
If militarism is regarded as the means of providing security, then $50 billion spent on 12 new submarines and an untold amount on unproven and hugely expensive joint strike fighters might be justified. But if citizens’ security is obtained by non-violent means – as in educational and job opportunities and the means of obtaining an affordable home – then expenditure on an arms race fired by the fascination with obtaining the latest weaponry, should be strictly limited.
Surely every person now realises the earth is warming with climate change humanity's greatest historical challenge to our existence. War is the road block with so much money spent on building weapons and the chaos of war preventing those affected from engaging in the transition away from fossil fuels.

Likewise, Stuart, thank you for this timely article.