Have you ever thought about the military-mind-set?

Is it the US society / culture / government that is driving the military, or is it the military that is driving US society / culture / government? We have approximately 1,000 military bases around the world. These military bases are in 156 countries. The fiscal expense of these military bases is horrific. If at least HALF of these military bases were closed, the tax money could be spent on up-dating our crumbling infrastructure, up-grades to our schools, better Health Care for the most vulnerable among us, & possibly even avoid cutting the Food Stamp Program. Why has the United States become so military-minded? Is the US actively trying to build an Empire? Why has it become so IMPORTANT to have everyone believe that you are a Super-Patriot? It has become so important to be thought of as being a super-patriot that anyone who tries to point out the inconsistencies of US policy runs the risk of being thrown in jail for exercising their Constitutional Right of Free Speech. In this Empire Building stage of the US military, the military is still telling its recruits that they are ‘fighting for our freedom(s)’ .... but these recruits are actually fighting & dying & being maimed so that the big corporations can have access to the natural resources in other countries. None of the military personnel since WWII have been dying for our freedom(s). From Viet Nam to the present day, all of the “wars” have been bogus. Why is this happening? Has the United States lost its honor & is it allowing the military to take control? Or is it the military that is actively taking control of the US?