Guns or Butter: Health Spending versus Defence Spending
18/01/2025
Guns or Butter: Health Spending versus Defence Spending Introduction The phrase “guns or butter” originated during the early 20th century, particularly around the time of World War I. The concept was likely first articulated by William Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State under President Woodrow Wilson. Bryan resigned in protest over Wilson’s decision to prioritize military production over civilian goods (Guns Before Butter Political Dictionary.) Others claim that the term came from the National Défense Act of 1916, which aimed to
