Broken window fallacy. When you redirect resources by force you forego the more productive (ie, voluntary) use of them. You see the new tanks but what you don't see is the tractor or car or dishwaher that would have been. Just because money is being spent doesn't mean it is being spent productively.
Yeah...but that can be countered argued as well.
Guy works at the tank factory...now has more spending cash, needs new washer, demand for appliances go up, appliance factory hires more people to make more product.
I think that point is that America needs more mid level pay jobs, that group is dying. There's an ocean of $35K/yr jobs...but few that pay $50-75K. Most people cannot live off of $35K/yr. This is why I think the entire $15-20/hr minimum wage thing is so absurd. Ok...now you make $18/hr to work fast food. They work you 30 hrs/week, and you're lucky enough t do that 52 weeks/yr. $18x30x52 = $28,000/yr. That's right in the middle of "can't live off of this" land.
I'm rambling, like always. The point here is, we need mid level pay manufacturing jobs. Appliances aren't going to sell themselves and fast food jobs don't afford someone the money to buy a $750 washing machine.