I cannot do better than the words of Dwight Eisenhower on this topic:
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some 50 miles of concrete highway. We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. This, I repeat, is the best way of life to be found on the road. the world has been taking. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.". April 16, 1953.
Excellent quote and and the truth, Doug. And neither party pays attention to the continued inequality and waste of USA military spending at the expense of human needs.
I guess you never studied history so please review Genghis Khan, Hitler, oh yea a guy I am sure you have already forgotten Putin. It is called defense and the best defense is a good offense.
Tom when did you get the chance to analyze and compare the defense budgets of Genghis Khan, Hitler and Putin to the US defense budget in order to conclude the US defense budget isn't large enough? 😳
Tom, if you’re talking to me, yes, I have studied War. It continues like an endless chess game, takes the lives of our children, generation after generation. I do understand that we can’t allow the Hitlers and Putins of the world to destroy people and Democracies. We also cannot start our own baseless wars either. I’m the meantime we can work for Peace for our children. The world’s children. And a sustainable environment. That takes a budget too. Study War not to repeat it. https://
Hi Irenie ! So glad to see you here ! My 2 cents on this particular little non-conversation with the 'identity' "Tom", is this; I'd love to 'study war no more', I really would. However, in this world populated as it is and likely will continue to be, by barbarians, autocrats, plutocrats, etc., etc., it's a fact of reality I and we have to be prepared to defend ourselves from and prevail over. That said, there must be complete, honest, accountability and oversight by 'we the people', who pay those credit card bills on our behalf and the behalf of those to come. 'That' has to be the first and guiding and operating principle first of all. All accounts tell us that is not so in the first place, and I feel 'Tom' wants to overlook that.
Thank you. This is excellent and you nailed it. How in the hell does this change? This is bipartisan because BOTH parties financially benefit and this is how Congress keeps their jobs. Donations from the arms industry (this is why we can't get gun laws, the dominance of the industry over our politicians), right wing think tanks, ALEC, Heritage Society, Federalist Society, Christian influence in government, I can't even list it all here. There are a lot of reasons the country is in a state of deterioration. Money and munitions, corrupt politicians. This is destroying the United States and I can't imagine how it is abated.
As a side note, I was involved the world federalist movement, which some may have confused with the Federalist Society mentioned above. We stood for a democratically-based world government, the idea of which turned off just about everyone else ..
I'm with you, Phil, but too bad the rest of the world isn't. They all have to hang on to their preciously-protected (to the death) "national identity". I have always questioned why we glorify the military while there is never a mention of the negotiators and diplomats who keep us out of wars. Apparently, we love lining pockets more than a peaceful world.
There is no doubt that our country has many politicians from both parties that are more interested in their wealth than in the welfare of our country. I am hearing this from more and more people every day within the brown community. All eyes are on the leadership in D.C.
I’d say that honor might go to Major General Smedley Butler. Unimaginable that he said of his participation in WWI
“I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major General. And during that period I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism. I suspected I was just part of the racket all the time. Now I am sure of it.”
Smedley Butler was the most decorated Marine in US history.
But did anyone study this man in history class? I know I didn’t. Please read his very short book…War is a Racket.
Again this was WWI not WWII…not much change. It all sounds familiar to us today.
Thank you D4N. Still learning a few more things about Gen Smedley Butler. Truly astounding character, especially back then. And look how the truth teller/whistle-blower was treated! Ridicule. That hasn’t changed one bit today for other truth-tellers like Snowden, Manning, Reality Winner, Alexander Vindman…on and on.
That speech also discusses the military industrial complex. Very impressive but remember Eisenhower was a Roosevelt democrat and then switched parties. He was American ahead of party and believed in true competition. Now we have none of that and neither Eisenhower or Goldwater would be elected by the republicans today they would both be to liberal. Think about that. Marjorie is the heart of the republican party now and Eisenhower is a liberal unfit for office. Hey, they won't even mention little Bush he is too liberal as well.
What I have read is that both the Democrats and the Republicans were drafting him to run for president. He had never declared any party affiliation, until he was drafted by Republican which he accepted.
That's fascinating! I guess that might help to explain why the 50's were such a relatively peaceful time in the U.S. First, a horrific war had just ended, and everyone longed for a normalcy long missing. Second, everyone was reasonably happy with the President during that decade.
Naturally, the common people don't want war ... but after all it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.
Hermann Goring
The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders...tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.
Hermann Goring
Guns will make us powerful; butter will only make us fat.
Hermann Goring
"Education is dangerous - Every educated person is a future enemy" Hermann Goring "We will go down in history either as the world's greatest statesmen or its worst villains"
Worst villains were Hitler's propagandists. The orange sadist learned well. Ivana said the only book he kept on his bedside table was "Mein Kampf": tell a lie three times and they will believe you. Who was the orange sadist's most important propagandist? Steve Miller? There are probably many, many. I welcome everyone's ideas.
Wow Doug. I'm gonna' borrow that reminder from Eisenhower's words. Thank you for that. I hadn't considered using those words from our past, solidly Republican President, who was solidly an American first, in stark contrast to the 'pretenders' of today.
It wasn't a shitzkrieg until all the US equipment and training that no one wants to pay for showed up and kicked his backside. Without it Ukraine falls in a few weeks. Then Romania, Germany and so on. Military is just a huge insurance policy. Like all insurance you pay for what you get. Yes there is waste but most of that is lack of competition and to much lobbing being allowed.
Remember, they’re one of the big dog militaries. They’re losing because they suck.And nobody’s rolling into Deutschland, unh-hunh. There are soldiers outside the USA. And our tactics and training are between Russia’s, and Germany’s. Not up to France and Britain, like Italy or Spain with expensive toys.
Funny how he did not suck until our equipment showed up. But of course we don't need that stuff it is all a waste of money. Oh and old Putin isn't groaning to much about any of it because he knows who is really kicking his ass just like Hitler knew who kicked his. None of it was cheap but freedom is the most expensive form of gov. ever invented not only in money but personal sacrifice. So do all the dancing around the fact that without our equipment Ukraine falls to Putin then he would move on to reunite the reset of the old USSR. It is that simple. Who should be getting credit for this is Biden who got the equipment there in time to help without using our young men and women to die over there. Bullies never stop until they are stopped. Putin is a bully who so far has brought a knife to a gun fight.
I think we're squabbling on the same side. I'm impressed by how much the Eastern Europeans really don't like the Russians, perhaps to a flaw - they're pretty hated after the Warsaw Pact days.
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." If the US really acted on these premises, we would be a beacon of hope to the world, and lose most of our 'allies.' Ukraine said no, and meant it.
Also, remember that Ukraine was the source of many weapons and generals for the Red Army. It was a anti-ship missile made in Ukraine that sank the Moscow. Now, the price of that missile gone way up in the international arms market, which is not particularly a good thing. But Ukraine itself has a pretty dense military history. US weapons may have turned the tide, but don't count them out.
The Shitzkrieg will be a talking point in military affairs for years.
the sad thing about this is that investing in PEOPLE, in FAMILIES, in CHILDREN is where the profits will come ... but apparently such investments are boring compared to shiny new weapons of (mass?) destruction that all these military contractors have a massive hard-on for.
Most people, especially those who really need help, don’t make huge “campaign contributions”. Major defense contractors and their senior executives do.
Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) received by far the highest dollar amount of earmarks. His 16 earmarks cost $647,936,000, which is $270,437,000 (71.6 percent) more than the legislator in second place, Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), who received six earmarks costing $377,499,000.
Senate Appropriations Committee member Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who received 31 earmarks costing $361,193,000; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who received 205 earmarks costing $316,024,824; and Senate Appropriations Committee member Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who received 48 earmarks costing $313,265,000. These five members of Congress together received $2,015,917,824, or 10.7 percent of the FY 2022 earmarks.
So, did former President Jimmy Carter (2015): “It violates the essence of what made America a great country in its political system. Now it’s just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president. And the same thing applies to governors and U.S. senators and congress members. So now we’ve just seen a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors, who want and expect and sometimes get favors for themselves after the election’s over. … The incumbents, Democrats and Republicans, look upon this unlimited money as a great benefit to themselves. Somebody’s who’s already in Congress has a lot more to sell to an avid contributor than somebody who’s just a challenger.” Quote from https://theintercept.com/2015/07/30/jimmy-carter-u-s-oligarchy-unlimited-political-bribery/.
And that was before Citizens United. Weapons makers have spent $2.5 billion on lobbying over the past two decades, employing, on average, over 700 lobbyists per year over the past five years. That is more than one for every member of Congress.
Five of the nation's biggest defense contractors -- Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies and General Dynamics -- spent a combined $60 million in 2020 to influence policy, according to a new report from the Center for Responsive Politics.
I wholeheartedly agree with you on that Tom ! There are multiple reasons he lost, having nothing whatsoever to do with his policies and execution on the job. Did you know Tom, that Carter, by measure solely by I.Q., was one of the most intelligent presidents we ever had ? (doubter that I am, I'll be looking further into that).
No, it is lack of competition. So the big defense contractors lobby the gov. to build all this shiny new stuff. We need more competition. But not all is wasted your drone's, Radar, ground penetrating radar, NASA and on and on are byproducts that we use everyday.
Not only would one expect more discussion of the amount of military spending. We should also have a discussion of the role of the U.S. in wars. What is the role of the United Nations? Are we sleepwalking into more wars, more escalation, more deaths, injuries, environmental destruction, rising risks of nuclear war? Where is the path we are currently on going to lead us? Many countries around the world don't view the U.S. and NATO as peacekeepers.
In Econ I, first chapter, "allocation of resources."
Guns vs. Butter., A common example of the guns-and-butter curve is the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The Soviet Union focused so much on military might that they fell short in meeting many of the basic needs of their citizens such as access to food, healthcare, and education.
That was the Reagan-Thatcher plan. Trap a senile oligarchy into war in Afghanistan and they can’t stop before they go broke. AKA Reagan-Thatcher-bin Laden.
What can the role of the United Nations be if we undermine the institution even in the most basic way possible, i.e. failing to pay our dues (despite being its physical host & the "champion" of a peaceful post-war order)?
Absent any debate in the media, most Americans have no idea what’s happening. With or without debate in the media, most Americans have no idea what’s happening. Another example of the disaster that is Citizens United.
"Why no debate" in congress and the media, you ask. You know the answer: who has power? The monopolistic monumental corporations, the financiers - playing roulette, adding no value, and the merchants of death. Remember Gilens and Page (2014): 70% of the population is disenfranchised, has zero impact on any political decisions. And there is absolutely no sign of rebellion from the people who do pay the taxes. Why? The propaganda machine keeps the easily hoodwinked population distracted and dazed in the headlights of all the screens thy are glued to. We have been robbed (Rand Corporation working paper of September 2020, estimate $47 TRILLION from 1975 to 2018) and subjected. Anger boils. The solution for the "masters of mankind" (Adam Smith "The Wealth of Nations" 1776) to keep us subjected: move to autocracy. It is an old story. The US could have chosen the path of hope for the future of humanity. So regrettably tragic.
Apparently, we do maintain a "crime database," the crimes of the citizens. There is no "Corporate crime database" says Ralph Nader, even though we are under a tsunami of corporate crime . . . that go unchecked.
There are protests against the budgets and unnecessary wars, but their voices are drowned out by military/corporate money, lobbyists and fear. Our voices need to be louder.
In my work designing and constructing military facilities, I have seen firsthand the amount spent on new or renovated facilities for many of these new weapon systems and the prioritization of these facilities over facilities such as lodging, housing or welfare for our troops. Robert, thank for putting some numbers up to show this and the need to at least debate the best value for the monies we’re spending.
And as you pointed out Robert, a comprehensive audit is key. In order to have any meaningful discussion about how we spend, we need to know how well previous monies have been spent.
Thanks again Dr. Reich for bringing this topic to the forum. When I first read about the passage of the "Defense" Department bill several days ago and that there was unanimity and NO debate, I was disgusted as I am every year. And the answer from the political realm is always the same "Look at all the money this is bringing into the State. I will use Dr. Reich's word RUBBISH! instead of my usual obscene word. Not only we do have more weapons (of the lethal type) than we have residents, we spend more money on weapons of mass destruction than even Russia or China. So, who are the bad guys in this picture? In the words of Walt Kelly's Pogo "We have seen the enemy and he is us" And as Dr. Reich so succinctly points out who benefits? Certainly not the 99% of us living paycheck to paycheck. No, it's the obscenely wealthy. Our rank and file military folk are paid as poorly as the rest of the working class. What's worse, if they are unlucky enough to be badly injured in the line of duty, we DON'T take care of them. The VA, I understand is improving, but has a long way to go. I did not approve of our attack on Vietnam, Granada, or Iraq; but I disapprove even more of the disgusting way our government treated those who participated, suffered horrible injuries like they were useless detritus. Jon Stewart went to Congress begging and pleading for assistance for these veterans. He did get some action, but not enough.
It’s not because politicians don’t want to look weak on defense, at least not solely, no, it’s that they get huge amounts of $ from the military suppliers ( the industrial welfare state) and those defense department $ get spent in each and every one of their precincts.
One factor among many in this spending extravaganza seems to be a tendency for defense industry to make sure an F-35 for example, is built with some contribution from nearly every state, so the politicians there will support this effort. We used to read regularly about defense officials asking to stop this weapon which they did not like.
Why are liberals so god damned wimpy? Why are they so afraid of pissing someone off that they always have to soften what they say?
“seems to be” ? No “seems” about it. Spreading the jobs to as many congressional districts as possible has been the exactly what defense contractors ARE (not “seem to be”) doing.
Ya wanna change things you’ve got to stop being afraid to call people out on their shit.
There is also the fact that Senators and Representatives have military bases and defense contractors in their states/districts, and they feel they have to keep feeding these "job creators."
I read a New York Times article awhile ago that reported China's annual defense spending is between $200 billion and $300 billion, less than half of ours. The same article said that in some areas their military capacity is exceeding ours, indicating that China is getting far more bang for its buck. A reassessment is definitely needed.
Of course there is no debate. Bernie Sanders is allowed to be the outlier, but few others. Can you imagine a national political candidate who campaigned on a pledge to audit the Pentagon and cut spending to affordable levels? Pretty sure he or she would have an unfortunate accident, like stepping in front of a bullet. Americans are at the mercy of too many powerful forces: the military industrial complex, Big Oil, Pharma, and Big Ag, Insurance, and the 1%. They don’t have a prayer, saving their democracy or their planet or their health.
As did Eisnehouwer - in his farewell speech. If only he had governed like that! But it's worth looking up that speech. Highly prophetic. Sadly, fulfilled.
We can’t have our cake and eat it too. Fighting for democracy in Ukraine is expensive. We are in every sense fighting a war by proxy. I’m hundred percent all in. I’m not smart enough to know if we can help ourselves the way we should. I’m sure the billionaires will get their tax cuts. We shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden by ourselves
Ed, I agree that sending weapons, food, and money is essential for Ukraine an I am proud the the Biden administration has stepped up. I don't begrudge a single penny the US is spending to help the Ukrainians defend themselves AND the rest of the free world against the treacherous tyranny of Dictatorial Russia. The 21.7 billion we've budgeted for Ukraine is a drop in the bucket of the 858 billion dollar budget. I wouldn't quibble if it was 50 billion. It's the money down the drain while the weapons industry gobbles up 500 billion in unnecessary weapons many of which are so poorly made they not only don't work, they kill members of our military.
Thank you for that quote, Rishi. In a picture on my desk, 2004, I’m standing in front of Busboys and Poets Cafe, Washington D.C., a banner in big letters, "You can bomb the world to pieces - but you can’t bomb it to Peace”. And we are still ignoring the fact that our bloated military budget does not protect us. It does keep the big business of military defense alive.
... and we're not in conflict with ourselves in fighting such a war? (Because we chose to fight the wrong war earlier - or because we're always willing to fight one...?)
If we're willing to believe there's a deficit of intelligence then we assuredly should shoulder the burden (it's the thickness between our ears).
Sleepwalking through history is perfect! Congress is the good cop bad cop act . Result same whether dem or republicans are in charge. I am beginning to think we need more of tha AOC team to reshape or shake up the system.
Implicit in all of this is a severe criticism of the media. Okay, Democratic and Republican politicians aren't talking about this because it serves their interests. But why isn't the press?
Michael Shapiro ; the press/media are owned by very wealthy interests ; some that are known, but many unknown. See who owns them. Washington Post, for example is owned by the guy who owns Amazon, Jeff Bezos, the owner of Twitter is Elon Musk, owner of Fox and the the Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch and /or his son. There are many examples of very wealthy owners/controllers of what we see and hear. The Fairness Doctrine, while not perfect, is a dim memory of some attempt at decency and a guardrail for truthful information reporting.
Laurie, this is perhaps the most pointed post i've seen today. Brevity and conciseness have a longer half life than Long winds. Thanks as always for your insights.
I cannot do better than the words of Dwight Eisenhower on this topic:
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some 50 miles of concrete highway. We pay for a single fighter plane with a half million bushels of wheat. We pay for a single destroyer with new homes that could have housed more than 8,000 people. This, I repeat, is the best way of life to be found on the road. the world has been taking. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.". April 16, 1953.
Excellent quote and and the truth, Doug. And neither party pays attention to the continued inequality and waste of USA military spending at the expense of human needs.
I guess you never studied history so please review Genghis Khan, Hitler, oh yea a guy I am sure you have already forgotten Putin. It is called defense and the best defense is a good offense.
What is needed is a rational level of fully accountable defence spending.
What you have is unaccountable looting by the military-industrial complex.
Tom when did you get the chance to analyze and compare the defense budgets of Genghis Khan, Hitler and Putin to the US defense budget in order to conclude the US defense budget isn't large enough? 😳
LOL!
never said I did that. How did you even dream that up in my post
Tom, if you’re talking to me, yes, I have studied War. It continues like an endless chess game, takes the lives of our children, generation after generation. I do understand that we can’t allow the Hitlers and Putins of the world to destroy people and Democracies. We also cannot start our own baseless wars either. I’m the meantime we can work for Peace for our children. The world’s children. And a sustainable environment. That takes a budget too. Study War not to repeat it. https://
Pete Seeger
youtu.be/0ijtdJcenFM
Hi Irenie ! So glad to see you here ! My 2 cents on this particular little non-conversation with the 'identity' "Tom", is this; I'd love to 'study war no more', I really would. However, in this world populated as it is and likely will continue to be, by barbarians, autocrats, plutocrats, etc., etc., it's a fact of reality I and we have to be prepared to defend ourselves from and prevail over. That said, there must be complete, honest, accountability and oversight by 'we the people', who pay those credit card bills on our behalf and the behalf of those to come. 'That' has to be the first and guiding and operating principle first of all. All accounts tell us that is not so in the first place, and I feel 'Tom' wants to overlook that.
Study War No More
Pete Seeger
https://youtu.be/0ijtdJcenFM
Tell it to Ike.
No one has a problem with defense, but what we are continually doing is called fear and paranoia not rational defense expenditure.
So, what (small, non-nuclear, of course) country are you suggesting the US invade this time?
Oh, be nice. The elves are watching. This schlub is probably out a grand for Trump's playing cards with the pilfered art.
I'd just like to know, as he thinks the best defense is a good offence, whom he proposes offending to defend the US. Is that mean?
I suspect that he lost you at 'thinks'.
Thank you. This is excellent and you nailed it. How in the hell does this change? This is bipartisan because BOTH parties financially benefit and this is how Congress keeps their jobs. Donations from the arms industry (this is why we can't get gun laws, the dominance of the industry over our politicians), right wing think tanks, ALEC, Heritage Society, Federalist Society, Christian influence in government, I can't even list it all here. There are a lot of reasons the country is in a state of deterioration. Money and munitions, corrupt politicians. This is destroying the United States and I can't imagine how it is abated.
As a side note, I was involved the world federalist movement, which some may have confused with the Federalist Society mentioned above. We stood for a democratically-based world government, the idea of which turned off just about everyone else ..
I'm with you, Phil, but too bad the rest of the world isn't. They all have to hang on to their preciously-protected (to the death) "national identity". I have always questioned why we glorify the military while there is never a mention of the negotiators and diplomats who keep us out of wars. Apparently, we love lining pockets more than a peaceful world.
There is no doubt that our country has many politicians from both parties that are more interested in their wealth than in the welfare of our country. I am hearing this from more and more people every day within the brown community. All eyes are on the leadership in D.C.
Fantastic quote Doug! Thank you for posting it. So very true.
And his by now well-known farewell address, which was one of the most radical speeches ever given by an establishment figure ..
I’d say that honor might go to Major General Smedley Butler. Unimaginable that he said of his participation in WWI
“I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major General. And during that period I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer for capitalism. I suspected I was just part of the racket all the time. Now I am sure of it.”
Smedley Butler was the most decorated Marine in US history.
But did anyone study this man in history class? I know I didn’t. Please read his very short book…War is a Racket.
Again this was WWI not WWII…not much change. It all sounds familiar to us today.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler
Thank you D4N. Still learning a few more things about Gen Smedley Butler. Truly astounding character, especially back then. And look how the truth teller/whistle-blower was treated! Ridicule. That hasn’t changed one bit today for other truth-tellers like Snowden, Manning, Reality Winner, Alexander Vindman…on and on.
never heard of him and I guess we know why
O_M_G .... thank you SeekingReason for sharing that. So grateful for your input..
That speech also discusses the military industrial complex. Very impressive but remember Eisenhower was a Roosevelt democrat and then switched parties. He was American ahead of party and believed in true competition. Now we have none of that and neither Eisenhower or Goldwater would be elected by the republicans today they would both be to liberal. Think about that. Marjorie is the heart of the republican party now and Eisenhower is a liberal unfit for office. Hey, they won't even mention little Bush he is too liberal as well.
I never knew that Eisenhower had been an FDR Democrat! Fascinating.
What I have read is that both the Democrats and the Republicans were drafting him to run for president. He had never declared any party affiliation, until he was drafted by Republican which he accepted.
That's fascinating! I guess that might help to explain why the 50's were such a relatively peaceful time in the U.S. First, a horrific war had just ended, and everyone longed for a normalcy long missing. Second, everyone was reasonably happy with the President during that decade.
Superb.
Or consider these quotes:
Naturally, the common people don't want war ... but after all it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.
Hermann Goring
The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders...tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger.
Hermann Goring
Guns will make us powerful; butter will only make us fat.
Hermann Goring
"Education is dangerous - Every educated person is a future enemy" Hermann Goring "We will go down in history either as the world's greatest statesmen or its worst villains"
Worst villains were Hitler's propagandists. The orange sadist learned well. Ivana said the only book he kept on his bedside table was "Mein Kampf": tell a lie three times and they will believe you. Who was the orange sadist's most important propagandist? Steve Miller? There are probably many, many. I welcome everyone's ideas.
WOW!!! Now HE was a true American patriot.
Superb.
Wow Doug. I'm gonna' borrow that reminder from Eisenhower's words. Thank you for that. I hadn't considered using those words from our past, solidly Republican President, who was solidly an American first, in stark contrast to the 'pretenders' of today.
yea until Putin comes and takes your fine hospital from you
He’s not impressing with the Shitzkrieg in the Donbas, is he?
It wasn't a shitzkrieg until all the US equipment and training that no one wants to pay for showed up and kicked his backside. Without it Ukraine falls in a few weeks. Then Romania, Germany and so on. Military is just a huge insurance policy. Like all insurance you pay for what you get. Yes there is waste but most of that is lack of competition and to much lobbing being allowed.
Remember, they’re one of the big dog militaries. They’re losing because they suck.And nobody’s rolling into Deutschland, unh-hunh. There are soldiers outside the USA. And our tactics and training are between Russia’s, and Germany’s. Not up to France and Britain, like Italy or Spain with expensive toys.
Funny how he did not suck until our equipment showed up. But of course we don't need that stuff it is all a waste of money. Oh and old Putin isn't groaning to much about any of it because he knows who is really kicking his ass just like Hitler knew who kicked his. None of it was cheap but freedom is the most expensive form of gov. ever invented not only in money but personal sacrifice. So do all the dancing around the fact that without our equipment Ukraine falls to Putin then he would move on to reunite the reset of the old USSR. It is that simple. Who should be getting credit for this is Biden who got the equipment there in time to help without using our young men and women to die over there. Bullies never stop until they are stopped. Putin is a bully who so far has brought a knife to a gun fight.
I think we're squabbling on the same side. I'm impressed by how much the Eastern Europeans really don't like the Russians, perhaps to a flaw - they're pretty hated after the Warsaw Pact days.
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." If the US really acted on these premises, we would be a beacon of hope to the world, and lose most of our 'allies.' Ukraine said no, and meant it.
Also, remember that Ukraine was the source of many weapons and generals for the Red Army. It was a anti-ship missile made in Ukraine that sank the Moscow. Now, the price of that missile gone way up in the international arms market, which is not particularly a good thing. But Ukraine itself has a pretty dense military history. US weapons may have turned the tide, but don't count them out.
The Shitzkrieg will be a talking point in military affairs for years.
the sad thing about this is that investing in PEOPLE, in FAMILIES, in CHILDREN is where the profits will come ... but apparently such investments are boring compared to shiny new weapons of (mass?) destruction that all these military contractors have a massive hard-on for.
Most people, especially those who really need help, don’t make huge “campaign contributions”. Major defense contractors and their senior executives do.
Right. Legalized bribery.
The Defense Bill is the last vestige of "pork." https://www.cagw.org/reporting/pig-book
Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) received by far the highest dollar amount of earmarks. His 16 earmarks cost $647,936,000, which is $270,437,000 (71.6 percent) more than the legislator in second place, Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), who received six earmarks costing $377,499,000.
Senate Appropriations Committee member Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who received 31 earmarks costing $361,193,000; Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), who received 205 earmarks costing $316,024,824; and Senate Appropriations Committee member Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who received 48 earmarks costing $313,265,000. These five members of Congress together received $2,015,917,824, or 10.7 percent of the FY 2022 earmarks.
Daniel, I honestly did not see your comment before I wrote “legalized bribery” …what further proof is needed of great minds thinking alike. 😄👍🏼
Or stating the obvious. Not picking on you just sad that more people can't see this.
I know. Our biggest safety net for democracy and checks and balances has been thrown out the window.
As the late Senator Paul Wellstone (from Minnesota) said, we have a legalized bribery system.
So, did former President Jimmy Carter (2015): “It violates the essence of what made America a great country in its political system. Now it’s just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president. And the same thing applies to governors and U.S. senators and congress members. So now we’ve just seen a complete subversion of our political system as a payoff to major contributors, who want and expect and sometimes get favors for themselves after the election’s over. … The incumbents, Democrats and Republicans, look upon this unlimited money as a great benefit to themselves. Somebody’s who’s already in Congress has a lot more to sell to an avid contributor than somebody who’s just a challenger.” Quote from https://theintercept.com/2015/07/30/jimmy-carter-u-s-oligarchy-unlimited-political-bribery/.
"To themselves."
They sell it to their constituents as "bringing home the bacon."
If "trickle down" worked, it might benefit society. Only statistics show that the money in munitions doesn't regenerate. Not an investment.
And that was before Citizens United. Weapons makers have spent $2.5 billion on lobbying over the past two decades, employing, on average, over 700 lobbyists per year over the past five years. That is more than one for every member of Congress.
https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/lobbying.php?ind=D
Five of the nation's biggest defense contractors -- Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies and General Dynamics -- spent a combined $60 million in 2020 to influence policy, according to a new report from the Center for Responsive Politics.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/03/07/how-biggest-arms-manufacturers-steer-millions-influence-us-policy.html
Monet spent ONLY on lobbying while people go without health care, medicine and heat sometimes. That’s Criminal in my mind.
Don, This is the information that needs to get to the ears of the right wingers. These specifics are so helpful! 👍🏼
Got to love Jimmy most underrated president and person ever. No wonder he lost.
October surprise.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Surprise_conspiracy_theory
I wholeheartedly agree with you on that Tom ! There are multiple reasons he lost, having nothing whatsoever to do with his policies and execution on the job. Did you know Tom, that Carter, by measure solely by I.Q., was one of the most intelligent presidents we ever had ? (doubter that I am, I'll be looking further into that).
Another great quote from a former president of great humanity.
repeat after me:
Corps ARE peeps.
Corps ARE peeps.
Corps ARE peeps,
friendo.
Bingo fo to the head of your class
No, it is lack of competition. So the big defense contractors lobby the gov. to build all this shiny new stuff. We need more competition. But not all is wasted your drone's, Radar, ground penetrating radar, NASA and on and on are byproducts that we use everyday.
Not only would one expect more discussion of the amount of military spending. We should also have a discussion of the role of the U.S. in wars. What is the role of the United Nations? Are we sleepwalking into more wars, more escalation, more deaths, injuries, environmental destruction, rising risks of nuclear war? Where is the path we are currently on going to lead us? Many countries around the world don't view the U.S. and NATO as peacekeepers.
In Econ I, first chapter, "allocation of resources."
Guns vs. Butter., A common example of the guns-and-butter curve is the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The Soviet Union focused so much on military might that they fell short in meeting many of the basic needs of their citizens such as access to food, healthcare, and education.
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/g/gunsandbutter.asp
Good point Daniel!
That was the Reagan-Thatcher plan. Trap a senile oligarchy into war in Afghanistan and they can’t stop before they go broke. AKA Reagan-Thatcher-bin Laden.
They had NOTHING but blather to do with it. Pure BS. The Soviet Union imploded.
Then the USA.
What can the role of the United Nations be if we undermine the institution even in the most basic way possible, i.e. failing to pay our dues (despite being its physical host & the "champion" of a peaceful post-war order)?
Absent any debate in the media, most Americans have no idea what’s happening. With or without debate in the media, most Americans have no idea what’s happening. Another example of the disaster that is Citizens United.
"Why no debate" in congress and the media, you ask. You know the answer: who has power? The monopolistic monumental corporations, the financiers - playing roulette, adding no value, and the merchants of death. Remember Gilens and Page (2014): 70% of the population is disenfranchised, has zero impact on any political decisions. And there is absolutely no sign of rebellion from the people who do pay the taxes. Why? The propaganda machine keeps the easily hoodwinked population distracted and dazed in the headlights of all the screens thy are glued to. We have been robbed (Rand Corporation working paper of September 2020, estimate $47 TRILLION from 1975 to 2018) and subjected. Anger boils. The solution for the "masters of mankind" (Adam Smith "The Wealth of Nations" 1776) to keep us subjected: move to autocracy. It is an old story. The US could have chosen the path of hope for the future of humanity. So regrettably tragic.
The flip side is a cottage industry in reporting fraud, waste and abuse. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_of_Defense_Whistleblower_Program
https://whistleblower.org/category/defense-department-whistleblowers/
Apparently, we do maintain a "crime database," the crimes of the citizens. There is no "Corporate crime database" says Ralph Nader, even though we are under a tsunami of corporate crime . . . that go unchecked.
BS. We debar corporate offenders from contracting with the government. E.G. I heard Service Contract Act cases. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/government-contracts/service-contracts Plenty involved DOD properties/projects.
I was also involved with many other statures that debar contractors.
There are protests against the budgets and unnecessary wars, but their voices are drowned out by military/corporate money, lobbyists and fear. Our voices need to be louder.
In my work designing and constructing military facilities, I have seen firsthand the amount spent on new or renovated facilities for many of these new weapon systems and the prioritization of these facilities over facilities such as lodging, housing or welfare for our troops. Robert, thank for putting some numbers up to show this and the need to at least debate the best value for the monies we’re spending.
And as you pointed out Robert, a comprehensive audit is key. In order to have any meaningful discussion about how we spend, we need to know how well previous monies have been spent.
Congress should at least hold of on increases in Pentagon spending until there is full accountability.
Lost over a trillion off the books under GWB.
Thanks again Dr. Reich for bringing this topic to the forum. When I first read about the passage of the "Defense" Department bill several days ago and that there was unanimity and NO debate, I was disgusted as I am every year. And the answer from the political realm is always the same "Look at all the money this is bringing into the State. I will use Dr. Reich's word RUBBISH! instead of my usual obscene word. Not only we do have more weapons (of the lethal type) than we have residents, we spend more money on weapons of mass destruction than even Russia or China. So, who are the bad guys in this picture? In the words of Walt Kelly's Pogo "We have seen the enemy and he is us" And as Dr. Reich so succinctly points out who benefits? Certainly not the 99% of us living paycheck to paycheck. No, it's the obscenely wealthy. Our rank and file military folk are paid as poorly as the rest of the working class. What's worse, if they are unlucky enough to be badly injured in the line of duty, we DON'T take care of them. The VA, I understand is improving, but has a long way to go. I did not approve of our attack on Vietnam, Granada, or Iraq; but I disapprove even more of the disgusting way our government treated those who participated, suffered horrible injuries like they were useless detritus. Jon Stewart went to Congress begging and pleading for assistance for these veterans. He did get some action, but not enough.
Well said Fay!
Defense Department. Such a wonderful euphemism. It more appropriately use to be called the War Department.
When you have a hammer everything looks like a nail.
& when you have oodles of missiles
everyone looks like a terrorist
'cept the home-gown
far right. duh.
Similar to spousal abuse. …but he/she really loves ME. Your spouse, not so much.
And when you have unlimited bombs and bombers, everything looks easy.
the Monies are delivered
in Dump Trucks their
Load$ un-covered
billions billowing
bean counters
baffled! Poor
peeps look
on in Won-
der at the
Extrava-
ganzas
WE're
buy-
ing.
.
Sold
we are
strip-mined
Overly-harvested &
All in the name of War.
.
Eisenhower was
SO Right.
It’s not because politicians don’t want to look weak on defense, at least not solely, no, it’s that they get huge amounts of $ from the military suppliers ( the industrial welfare state) and those defense department $ get spent in each and every one of their precincts.
One factor among many in this spending extravaganza seems to be a tendency for defense industry to make sure an F-35 for example, is built with some contribution from nearly every state, so the politicians there will support this effort. We used to read regularly about defense officials asking to stop this weapon which they did not like.
“seems to be” ?!!
Why are liberals so god damned wimpy? Why are they so afraid of pissing someone off that they always have to soften what they say?
“seems to be” ? No “seems” about it. Spreading the jobs to as many congressional districts as possible has been the exactly what defense contractors ARE (not “seem to be”) doing.
Ya wanna change things you’ve got to stop being afraid to call people out on their shit.
There is also the fact that Senators and Representatives have military bases and defense contractors in their states/districts, and they feel they have to keep feeding these "job creators."
I read a New York Times article awhile ago that reported China's annual defense spending is between $200 billion and $300 billion, less than half of ours. The same article said that in some areas their military capacity is exceeding ours, indicating that China is getting far more bang for its buck. A reassessment is definitely needed.
Of course there is no debate. Bernie Sanders is allowed to be the outlier, but few others. Can you imagine a national political candidate who campaigned on a pledge to audit the Pentagon and cut spending to affordable levels? Pretty sure he or she would have an unfortunate accident, like stepping in front of a bullet. Americans are at the mercy of too many powerful forces: the military industrial complex, Big Oil, Pharma, and Big Ag, Insurance, and the 1%. They don’t have a prayer, saving their democracy or their planet or their health.
Once again, the professor has nailed it.
As did Eisnehouwer - in his farewell speech. If only he had governed like that! But it's worth looking up that speech. Highly prophetic. Sadly, fulfilled.
We can’t have our cake and eat it too. Fighting for democracy in Ukraine is expensive. We are in every sense fighting a war by proxy. I’m hundred percent all in. I’m not smart enough to know if we can help ourselves the way we should. I’m sure the billionaires will get their tax cuts. We shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden by ourselves
Ed, I agree that sending weapons, food, and money is essential for Ukraine an I am proud the the Biden administration has stepped up. I don't begrudge a single penny the US is spending to help the Ukrainians defend themselves AND the rest of the free world against the treacherous tyranny of Dictatorial Russia. The 21.7 billion we've budgeted for Ukraine is a drop in the bucket of the 858 billion dollar budget. I wouldn't quibble if it was 50 billion. It's the money down the drain while the weapons industry gobbles up 500 billion in unnecessary weapons many of which are so poorly made they not only don't work, they kill members of our military.
Are the two things somehow unrelated? ("You can bomb the world to pieces - but you can't bomb it into peace!")
Thank you for that quote, Rishi. In a picture on my desk, 2004, I’m standing in front of Busboys and Poets Cafe, Washington D.C., a banner in big letters, "You can bomb the world to pieces - but you can’t bomb it to Peace”. And we are still ignoring the fact that our bloated military budget does not protect us. It does keep the big business of military defense alive.
... and we're not in conflict with ourselves in fighting such a war? (Because we chose to fight the wrong war earlier - or because we're always willing to fight one...?)
If we're willing to believe there's a deficit of intelligence then we assuredly should shoulder the burden (it's the thickness between our ears).
There is no need in civilian life for an assault rifle. Those that have them, just take cans out to a quarry and shoot for fun. That’s it!
Sleepwalking through history is perfect! Congress is the good cop bad cop act . Result same whether dem or republicans are in charge. I am beginning to think we need more of tha AOC team to reshape or shake up the system.
Implicit in all of this is a severe criticism of the media. Okay, Democratic and Republican politicians aren't talking about this because it serves their interests. But why isn't the press?
Michael Shapiro ; the press/media are owned by very wealthy interests ; some that are known, but many unknown. See who owns them. Washington Post, for example is owned by the guy who owns Amazon, Jeff Bezos, the owner of Twitter is Elon Musk, owner of Fox and the the Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch and /or his son. There are many examples of very wealthy owners/controllers of what we see and hear. The Fairness Doctrine, while not perfect, is a dim memory of some attempt at decency and a guardrail for truthful information reporting.
Yes, I remember the Fairness Doctrine - based on the fact that the airwaves belong to the public - and I remember them doing away with it.
Not always a fan of Chomsky, but can recommend Herman and Chomsky, Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media
Also, Ben Bagdikia, The Media Monoply
Neither new, but both much to the point.
Michael Shapiro ; Thank you for this.
Laurie, this is perhaps the most pointed post i've seen today. Brevity and conciseness have a longer half life than Long winds. Thanks as always for your insights.
Which media? The local movie theater is still showing 'Top Gun: Maverick'-
Ha!