"Armaments; extremely useful for fighting wars, a deadweight in any civil economy"

This quote by John Ralston Saul is a commentary on the economic ramifications of military spending. He is recommending that while weaponries are vital for waging war, they are a problem on a nation's economy when there is no war. Armaments are pricey to produce and maintain, and they do not create any economic activity or advantage. In peacetime, the cash invested in weaponries could be used to invest in other areas of the economy, such as facilities, education, and health care. This would develop tasks and stimulate financial growth. Therefore, while armaments are essential for defense, they can be a drain on a nation's resources when there is no war.