The knight in the big world of American TV series

Chapter 2384

Compared to their own decline, the success across the sea was what truly broke the Americans' defenses.

So the US government turned its attention to superheroes.

"We can't expect those vigilantes to actually stand with us; that's unrealistic!" The military finally spoke up. "Besides, even if we could persuade Kai to help us, what would we have to give in return? Do you really think that just a name of patriotism would be enough to get him to do his best? Don't forget, we live in a capitalist society! Nobody works for free! What can you offer Kai? What does he lack? Money? What a joke! Leaving aside the size of the Wayne Consortium he controls, given his connections with Asgard and Atlantis, what we consider wealth is a joke to him! Or is he lacking women? Trust..." "If he wanted to, all those so-called Hollywood actresses would be vying for his attention. You see, our intelligence shows his girlfriends are the Chicago Three Heroines. Even I, an old man who's lost interest in women, have to admit their charm. And then there's the woman living in his house, that mutant—she's even worse! She can transform into anyone, even animals! If Kay were a little more twisted, believe me, the images of all of you here would be on his bed! Also, there's a rumor… the unconfirmed kind—that our superhero, Mr. Kay, seems to have a bit of an ambiguous relationship with the Queen of Atlantis."

The military representative sneered at the politicians' wild ideas.

Using so-called righteousness to call on people to sacrifice for the interests of these big shots is only effective on the lower classes!
The biggest difference between Kay and Tony is that they are carnivores!
They are naturally part of the ruling class.

So far, everyone's speculation about their willingness to become superheroes has remained at the level of... a hobby!
That's right, it's a hobby!
They were happy to be vigilantes, it's that simple. You should know that among these people, there are all sorts of strange and unusual hobbies. Some of them even have a thing for minors!

In comparison, enjoying fighting crime is a fairly normal hobby.

But to expect them to sacrifice their own interests for the so-called American interests... you're overthinking it.

It's important to understand that Stark Industries' main business is energy and high technology. While they do have a need for rare metals, it's certainly not enough to make Tony abandon markets in other countries... especially the market of a certain major Eastern power, to help the United States seize the rare metal mineral resources of God-given islands.

It's important to understand that during the years Stark Industries was involved in arms manufacturing, their business never expanded into that mysterious Eastern superpower, because Stark Industries had very close ties with the US and US governments.

A certain mysterious Eastern superpower has absolutely no trust in the Stark Group.

The situation only improved after Tony decisively shut down and transferred the arms division.

After all, a certain mysterious Eastern superpower is very interested in his new energy sources.

This thing is cheap!

Even if you have to pay patent fees, it's still cheap!
One construction, many years of benefits.

As for Kai, he's like a god in their eyes.

I have few worldly desires.

"Oh, right, the only thing he lacks is power! So... everyone, would you be willing to share power with him?!"

The military representative's single sentence sealed everyone's fate.

Because they can give Kai anything, except power!

Kai's influence is already extremely large!
If he gains power, no one can be sure what will happen in the end!
Perhaps America really will have an emperor!
Don't think this is impossible... You can refer to a certain golden retriever!
Moreover, power is a finite thing; if you have more, I have less.

If power is given to Kai, then from whom will it be taken?

Who the hell would willingly give their cake to someone else?

After that, everyone fell silent.

And that's indeed the case; nobody's stupid, everyone knows who else is.

If you say Kai pities ordinary people, then everyone can believe it. Although it's rare, not impossible, for someone in their social class to still have a conscience... But to say that someone among them would be as reckless as a fool, sacrificing themselves for the benefit of others... give me a break!

Didn't you see? There aren't many people joining the military in the US anymore.

Yes, that sounds counterintuitive, right?

With such a high military budget, how come no one is willing to join the military?

The United States, with a military budget of $886 billion, accounting for over 40% of global military spending and possessing the world's most advanced weaponry, is failing to meet its recruitment targets. This seemingly contradictory phenomenon is unfolding in the United States. According to data from the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. military was already 25% short of personnel two years ago! This year's shortfall is only expected to be even greater!

The Air Force and Navy have also faced recruitment difficulties, and have even had to lower their enlistment standards (such as relaxing educational and vision requirements), but they still struggle to attract young people to join the military.

First, let's look at the "economic factors": High military spending does not equal good treatment for soldiers, and the "cost-effectiveness of joining the army" continues to decline.

Many people believe that "the US military spends a lot, so soldiers must be well-paid," but in reality, the bulk of the US military budget is spent on weapons research and development and equipment procurement. The actual benefits that reach soldiers have long since fallen behind the pace of social development, and the "economic attractiveness" of joining the military is getting weaker and weaker: the salary "seems high, but is actually shrinking": the monthly salary of a new US recruit is about $2000 (about 1.4 yuan), which seems to be higher than the monthly salary of ordinary service industry jobs (such as a supermarket cashier's monthly salary of $1500), but after deducting social security and health insurance, the actual take-home pay is less than $1800; moreover, soldiers need to bear "additional expenses" - such as purchasing non-standard living supplies, travel expenses for visiting relatives (military personnel stationed in the US often have to pay for their own visits), and if they are deployed overseas, they may also face "exchange rate losses" (such as when stationed in the Middle East, the exchange rate of the US dollar to the local currency fluctuates greatly).

"Welfare promises" are hard to keep and have high hidden costs: The U.S. military once used "free college" (Military Education Benefits Act) and "priority employment after discharge" as bait to attract young people, but the "hidden thresholds" for these benefits are getting higher and higher: to enjoy "free college", one must serve for 3 years and can only choose "community colleges" that cooperate with the military (most well-known colleges do not accept military education subsidies). If one is discharged midway, not only will one not receive subsidies, but one may also be burdened with "education loans".
The policy of "prioritizing employment after military service" is difficult to implement in reality. American companies value civilian experience more, and the skills soldiers acquire in the military, such as "weapon operation and tactical command," are almost useless in the civilian market. The unemployment rate for veterans (about 6%) is higher than the national average unemployment rate (3.8%), and many veterans can only take low-paying jobs such as "security guards and warehouse managers."

Looking at the "social impact": joining the military has changed from a "symbol of honor" to a "reluctant choice," leading to a decline in social acceptance.

During World War II and the Cold War, enlisting in the U.S. military was a symbol of patriotism and honor, and young people took pride in serving. However, today, the social prestige of military service has faded, and it has even become a "desperate choice for the lower classes," causing more young people to shy away from military service: "Class solidification": Military service has become a "way out for the poor," while the elite class avoids it like the plague. U.S. recruitment data shows that 80% of new recruits come from low-income families (annual family income less than $5), and 60% come from rural areas or small towns. Children from high-income families (annual income over $10) and the elite class are almost never willing to enlist. The reason is simple: children from elite families have more choices—attending prestigious universities, working in investment banking, or working in tech companies—and don't need to "rely on military service to secure a future." Children from low-income families are also increasingly aware that "the probability of changing their fate through military service is getting lower and lower" (as mentioned earlier, difficulty finding employment after discharge), and would rather "attend community college first and then find ordinary work" than serve in the military. This "class label" has led to a continuous decline in the "social recognition" of military service. Young people feel that "only those who have no other choice will join the army" and are unwilling to be labeled as "lower class".

Even ordinary people are unwilling to serve in the American army now, let alone the elite like them?

So, everyone's enthusiasm cooled down quickly.

I was originally thinking of using some so-called righteous cause to get something for free.

As a result, they were met with a crushing defeat.

Many people even thought that if their approach worked, they would have a way to control Kai in the future.

Turn Kai into a workhorse!
Don't assume they can't do it.

It's important to know that many things about Americans are inherited from the British.

In particular, if it works well, use it to the extreme!
Of course, the military representative didn't say this out of loyalty or anything else.

Their real intention was... they couldn't let the military become useless!
Just like how police instinctively dislike vigilantes and superheroes.

If superheroes have to handle everything, what about the military?
Won't I become a useless bum who just eats rice and does nothing?

What happens after you become useless?
Of course, we should cut funding!

It's important to know that before the tsunami, Benjamin's biggest political agenda was to cut the ever-increasing military spending!
The U.S. military spends the most in the world!

It's equivalent to more than the sum of the last nine digits!

Those old men in the US military are all fat and bloated!

The key issue is that nobody dares to intervene!
Some jokingly say the US military is the most incorruptible in the world, but in reality, their corruption methods are far more sophisticated and covert than ordinary people imagine. It's not the petty theft we often see, but a systemic operation disguised as a legal system. Looking back at history, immediately after World War II, the US invested heavily in rebuilding its military. President Truman couldn't resist and established a commission to investigate the military and arms dealers' bad accounts. The results revealed countless shady dealings in contracts, with layers of markups on paper, but in reality, a large portion of the money went into private pockets. Although many problems were uncovered at the time, and some companies were fined and officials were dismissed, ultimately, this was insignificant to the vast US military system. Instead, it became a "routine": procurement processes became increasingly complex, everything could be claimed to be for "national security," and spending became increasingly elaborate. The Veterans Affairs Bureau also illustrates this point. This agency, originally intended to care for veterans, was rotten to the core. Decades ago, the hospital was investigated for corruption, but in 2014, the Phoenix hospital scandal further fueled public outrage. The hospital, meant to save lives, had its funds misappropriated and squandered, leaving veterans waiting in long lines for beds, some even dying in the process. The investigation ultimately revealed that not only medical staff but also high-ranking officials were involved, misappropriating hundreds of millions of dollars. Yet, the authorities ultimately dismissed it as a "management loophole," falling far short of genuine accountability.

Then there's the Navy's "Fat Leonard case." A Malaysian contractor, through bribery, offering women, and engaging in lavish socializing, lured a large number of high-ranking U.S. military officers into a multi-million dollar contract.

This case involved more than 30 military officers, including many generals, and many were eventually sentenced. However, the military always claims it's an "isolated incident," and each time something goes wrong, they say they'll "strengthen management," but the same scenario repeats itself every few years. The exorbitant prices in US military procurement break records every year. A hammer costs a few hundred dollars, coffee machines and refrigerators cost tens of thousands of dollars—simple parts are marked up to astronomical prices by monopolistic corporations.

In fact, Congress has initiated audits before!

Unfortunately... I didn't pass even once!

The accounting firm commissioned by the Department of Defense to audit the U.S. military has consistently issued a "disclaimer of opinion" throughout its six-year audits. Why the disclaimer? Is it out of fear or some other hidden reason? The audits have yielded no results; they've been a fruitless exercise. The firm is helpless, as audit reports require signatures and guarantees, and they would be held responsible if anything went wrong. Therefore, this is the only opinion they can offer. Just how bad are the U.S. military's accounts that the auditors dare not audit or sign them? It's worth noting that many auditors have mysteriously disappeared before this, and no one knows who did it. Everyone wants to make money, but you need to be alive to spend it. The reason for not signing is simple: corruption. Everyone embezzled, legally embezzled together. And how this money was embezzled is unknown, who embezzled it is unknown, how the spoils were divided is unknown—it's all a legitimate distribution within a community of interests. In other words, even if you really investigated, they themselves wouldn't know how the embezzlement happened, how the money simply vanished into thin air. And this happens every year.

With military spending cuts... what will happen to the generals' mansions, luxury cars, and yachts?
The food and clothing of millions of canal workers depend on this!

Thankfully, just as Congress was still agonizing over whether to kill the president and replace him with someone else, the situation improved.

A massive tsunami is coming!
The opportunity for gentlemen to make money has arrived!

After all, the navy is gone, so is it necessary to build ships?

If new equipment is needed, then there's money to be made!

Now that we've finally overcome one hurdle, if Kai gets involved... then the income of the American soldiers will be affected!
After all, they can't take down Kai... so whether the God-given Island plan can succeed or not is not really the military's concern, but it absolutely cannot fall into the hands of others!