Ever read the reports to Congress from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO?) I have read a handful. Full of warnings, cautions, issues Congress should look into, etc. Congress doesn't go by such logic.

Congress bought them beause...

A) They were cheap. Congress cost-capped them at around $500 million each. That's roughly 1/4 what a Burke costs. Then they ordered them in bulk, and exclaimed they were growing the Navy affordably. Looks good at election time.

B) They brought two new shipyards into the (tiny) pool of available defense yards. Marinette and Austal had previously been civilian yards. This added yards to the military side. We only have one which builds carriers (Newport News,) two which build destroyers (Huntington Ingalls and Bath,) and two which build subs (Electric Boat and Newport News.) If we had a major war tomorrow, those yards are all there are for warships. (It ain't like the WWII days...) Getting two more yards into the mix, and all the work/money those yards bring to their districts is "what Congressional politics is all about!" Hey Wisconsin, **I Senator Soandso** got you all that defense work up at Marinette! Vote for Me!!!

C) Add to these two new yards a whole new supply chain of parts, etc. from all around the nation required to have these ships.

THAT'S why Congress voted for them. If you think otherwise, you are as in the dark as a good 99% of this nation.

(Churchill is quoted to have said the best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.)