There absolutely is a tradeoff between defense and civilian spending: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns_versus_butter_model

If we make corporate tax to e what it was historically normal, and tax the wealthy-wealthies to a reasonable level and close all ridiculous loop-holes, then it can be zero-sum. Or even profit.

This isn’t an argument. What do you say to someone who doesn’t think ubi will scale and who is also anti war?

Just declare a war on needless bureaucracy or something. No need for actual violence.

I'd have to see their argument. A basic "better things aren't possible because where will the money come from?" Isn't possible to engage with seriously. We don't fund our state with gold mines.

Yes we have? There's an ongoing funding crisis for Ukraine's defense, and there are legions of conservatives who are mad about the trillion + spent blowing up Afghanistan + Iraq.

Taxation in the US came about to fund a war.

Money is in the top-three concerns people have about war; it's right after lives lost and infrastructure destroyed.

I'm guessing you mean income tax, rather than taxation in general?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_taxation_in_the_Uni...

You're saying people are mad about war funding. I'm saying the wars and dod get funded every year no matter what. Both things are true.