> But at what cost? How many wars? How many lives lost due to our infatuation with the MIC?

I'm not implying the military industrial complex is good (or bad). I'm simply saying the narrative that silicon valley gave the military smart phones and not vice versa severely misunderstands the way things in that sector happen. To the extent that Silicon Valley works with the military it is because SV effectively is a branch of the military.

> The Pentagon does not have to be the only road to basic research, R&D, etc. What if there were other agencies with the budget (to burn) clout of the DoD?

Is there really a huge difference between Pentagon and DoD when talking about the MID?