A prosperous nation that wishes to be protected from aggression MUST advance the technology of warfare, or be vulnerable to injury and conquest.
And, as to public works projects, if the government has to build it, most likely not everyone wants it. In a free society, there is no obsticle to prevent those who will benefit from this or that project, from likewise funding it. (To believe that no visionaries could exist outside of government is vile hubris. If there is profit in a thing, it will be accomplished.) Successfully lobbying government to become the financier of such things increases the benefit to the developers unnaturally, and forces all to pay for the wealth and convenience of some. (If a group wishes a road to be built, they must pay market value for the right-of-way; the government can "take" it) The folks who could do without are forced to pay for them that have want. That ain't right.
I think there is some discrimination required in the screed...both ways; key words: necessary, proper.