I'd be in favor of nationalizing the defense industry.

[Smith_3]

And making private war profiteering a felony. As we have just witnessed the largest case of war profiteering in human history, it is about time.

Remove the incentives of going to war under false premises.

[Norrin Radd]

1. kr

[KharmaTrain]

2. It Is Nationalized...

It's what Eisenhower called the military-industrial complex. Our tax money has been fueling this system since World War II...without the billions we throw at Northrup or General Electric or Blackwater, they would have folded years ago (yes, including GE...they were on the verge of obsolesence in the 60s until Vietnam came along).

The problem was this complex got too big...too powerful. It needed wars to justify its existance. They couldn't beat the swords into plowshares after the cold war and needed not only a place to test out all those weapons and toys we spent money on, but to make more. Yep, it was "government creating work"...the wrong kind.

You point to a dark culture in this country...the big money in not just waging wars, but selling of wars. The billions our defense industry makes not only in selling weapons and other "goods" to our government (that accounts for thousands of jobs) but also for other countries as well. How much ya wanna bet the guns being fired back at our troops came from the same factory as the ones our troops came from. It's that culture that has always existed that needs to be bottled and then stashed away.

[madokie]

3. Once again

KT puts it in perspective. The same people who profit from death and destruction also control most if not all our so called free press. That one aspect of our four legged stool called democracy has to be FIXED, yes neutered if you will, if we are to fulfill our promise of the American dream..

[KharmaTrain]

6. Thank You

I think the bottom line is the "bigger is better" society is bust. We've all lived in a "top-down" society where the impression was we all wanted to be "big"...or that the "American Dream" was unlimited riches and toys. This economic collapse may help some people in this country realize riches aren't always counted in one's portfolio.

Thank you, as always for your insight as well.

:toast:

[annabanana]

4. I think the OP means.. It's time to get the "industrial" OUT

of that "military-industrial complex". . . Or at least get it out of the damn driver's seat!

[KharmaTrain]

5. The Point Is That Industrial Is Us As Well...

No matter how perfect man tries to make himself, war and power are a basic instinct. Every major civilization has been built on a strong military and with it comes powers nad riches...ones always too tempting to the basic human instincts. This country is unique that it was designed for the civilians, the people, to control the military...not a king or religious figure, but the trapping of power and riches still are there, the best intentions are to try to curb those powers and insticts...but you won't be able to eliminate them.

We had a golden window in the 90's to turn that complext into something other than military, but it wasn't possible. The money and power in making weapons and selling them is still far too great...not just in our society, but in others as well. The best we can expect are leaders who don't see the military-industrial complex as a major source of power and revenue...that's how they're removed from the drivers seat. Yes, reduce defense spending, but also to limit exports of weapons...take the big profits out of killing, not just in this country, but worldwide.

[Baikonour]

7. Absolutely spot on. nt