🛡️ Co-Opting the Defense Lobby

Co-Opting the Defense Lobby: Just Pay Them More

The Problem

Defense lobbyists spend ~$100M/year and generate $181B in government contracts. That’s a 1,810:1 ROI.

They will absolutely kill any treaty that threatens their revenue. Not because they’re evil. Because that’s their job.

The Obvious Solution

Pay them more to lobby FOR the treaty instead of against it.

The Offer

Allocate strategic partnerships funding from VICTORY bonds to:

  1. Lobbyists directly: “Here are bonds paying 270% annually. Lobby FOR the treaty.”
  2. Defense contractor executives: “Here are bonds worth more than your salary. Stop blocking the treaty.”
  3. Private investors/family offices: “Here are bonds paying 270% vs current 10% market return.”
  4. Key board members: Early access to bonds as “strategic advisors”

The Math They See

Current deal (lobbying against treaty):

  • Pay: $500K-2M annually
  • Job security: Depends on military budget
  • Upside: Salary, maybe some stock options

Our deal (lobbying for treaty):

  • Pay: $5-20M in VICTORY bonds
  • Returns: 270% annually, perpetual
  • Job security: Still have 99% of military budget to protect
  • Upside: Generational wealth

Even a lobbyist can do that math.

Why They Take It

1. It’s More Money

270% returns > whatever they’re currently making.

2. Treaty Doesn’t Hurt Them Anyway

  • Military budget only drops 1% ($27B of $2.7T)
  • They still have 99% to lobby for
  • New contracts still get signed
  • Jobs don’t disappear

3. Better Returns

Private investors and family offices seek high returns. VICTORY bonds paying 270% vs stock market’s 10% represent a compelling opportunity for those willing to take calculated risks on policy-driven investments.

4. Political Cover

“We’re supporting life-saving medical research” plays better than “We’re blocking cancer cures to protect profit margins.”

The Strategy in Practice

Phase 1: Identify Key Players

  • Top 50 defense lobbyists (by spending/influence)
  • 20 defense contractor CEOs/board members
  • 10 major private investors/family offices
  • 5 former Pentagon officials with influence

Phase 2: The Approach

Private meetings. Simple pitch:

“The 1% treaty is happening. You can fight it and lose, or support it and get rich. Here are VICTORY bonds. They pay 270% annually. Forever. Your clients keep 99% of their budgets. Everyone wins. What’s your price?”

Phase 3: The Flip

Once 10-20 key people flip, the rest follow. Nobody wants to be the last holdout fighting a treaty that’s obviously passing.

Phase 4: Active Support

Now they’re not just neutral—they’re actively lobbying FOR the treaty:

  • Testifying to Congress: “This strengthens national security through health”
  • Op-eds: “Military readiness requires healthy population”
  • Behind-the-scenes: Convincing other lobbyists to flip

Budget Allocation

A significant portion of the campaign’s $1B war chest is allocated for strategic partnerships to co-opt key industry players and defense lobbyists. For the full breakdown, see the Campaign Budget.

Why This Works

It’s Literally Their Playbook

Defense contractors spend $100M on lobbying and get $181B back (1,810:1 ROI). The approach uses the EXACT same strategy, just offering better returns.

It’s Inevitable

Once credible funding and serious intent are demonstrated, smart players will flip early to get better terms. The rest follow or get left behind.

What We’re NOT Doing

NOT asking them to:

  • Close factories
  • Lay off workers
  • Stop making weapons
  • “Convert” to medical equipment manufacturing
  • Change their business model
  • Feel bad about what they do

Just asking them to:

  • Accept higher returns
  • Stop blocking the treaty
  • Maybe even support it publicly

Irony

The strategy uses the corruption to end the corruption.

The same greed that created the military-industrial complex can be redirected to fund medical research. No need to change human nature. Just change what pays better.

What They Tell Their Boards

Defense Contractor CEO: “We invested in these bonds paying 270% returns. Treaty passes, we make billions. Treaty fails, our diversification protects us. Either way, we keep 99% of our contracts.”

Private Investor: “These bonds offer 270% returns vs market’s 10%. If the treaty passes, we make billions. Worth the calculated risk.”

Lobbyist: “My client diversified into medical research investment. Supporting the treaty aligns with their new portfolio. Also, it’s passing anyway, so why die on this hill?”

Expected Results

Early Phase (Months 1-12)

  • 5-10 key lobbyists flip
  • 2-3 major private investors commit
  • Treaty goes from “impossible” to “controversial”

Mid Phase (Months 13-24)

  • 20-30 lobbyists actively supporting
  • Defense contractor trade associations go neutral
  • Treaty becomes “bipartisan opportunity”

Late Phase (Months 25-36)

  • Former opponents now claiming credit
  • “I always supported medical research”
  • Treaty passes with strong majority

The Bottom Line

You can’t fight the military-industrial complex.

But you can hire it.

Cost: A strategic allocation from the campaign’s primary war chest (see Campaign Budget)

Result: The most powerful lobbying machine in history working FOR the treaty instead of against it

ROI: Priceless

Next Steps: