What is the best choice?
Which is the most effective strategy; warfare and its attendant brutality and inhumane psychological and physical affects on our planet and its denizens, or winning hearts and minds of people? The first makes deadly enemies and vendettas far into the future, as there are no such things as smart bombs or surgical strikes. The second is like a great investment, paying dividends far into the future, such as the Marshall Plan did post-WWII. The only winners in a war are the military industrial complex, that former President Eisenhower warned us about, so many years ago.
The major parallel the three major powers have in common is that they are the three major arms suppliers to the third world. Once again, the profit motive trumps peace and the well being of the people of those countries. Sure, they can still pull a Darfur and use machetes, but then the big three would not get the profits. I know, people”s jobs are dependent on the military arms suppliers, but there are much more productive investments in the long run. Investments that add morality and create an innovative environment should be the major growth industries.
Americans have valued human life, but without education and health care, we are less than the least among us. The military is essential for our defense, but we should not be spending more than all other countries in the world combined. We should be investing in innovative start-ups and education, as they are our future. I, like all Americans, am praying for our new President to turn this country around. This disastrous slide into second world status is alarming to everyone.
I realize the military and industrial complex are rich and powerful, but the time for no-bid, no- limit contracts is hopefully over. Allowing defense contractors to routinely go far over-budget is shameful and unconscionable.
Dave Gebhard
Lakeport
