Final answer:
The dominant force in numbers and spending is influenced by a nation's allocation of resources based on political, public, and economic pressures. Military and social program spending reflect these influences, while workers in the context of globalization may not be a dominant force due to their limited economic influence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dominant force in both numbers and spending relates to how a nation allocates its finite resources between different priorities, such as national defense and social programs. This debate often falls along the lines of the 'guns versus butter' model. When considering where the dominant force lies, it is typically seen that political, public, and economic pressures influence the balance between these expenditures. For example, total U.S. Government Spending data shows a historical shift with national defense spending as a percentage of GDP generally declining while Social Security and health care expenditures, including Medicare and Medicaid, have grown steadily. Despite the dominance of certain interests, it is also noted that their influence is not absolute and is shaped by factors like public opinion and political culture.
When discussing the interests which are not the dominant force, it is commonly acknowledged that certain segments of the population, such as workers in the context of globalization, may have less influence over government spending decisions. This is primarily due to their limited resources to save for rough periods or to buy insurance to safeguard against market volatility. Thus, their capacity to influence policies can be less impactful in comparison to more affluent groups such as business sectors and law firms.