To be sure, there is an impending economic crisis that will be world wide in its impact. I have little doubt that the worst is yet to come. With this in mind…
Republican Conservative pundits like Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, and Glenn Beck, are sometimes found of reflecting back to the Founding Fathers to justify current political doctrine and beliefs. For example the current economic situation, bigger government, and health care. They speak about principles such as limited government, minority rights,federalism (our unique American contribution to Constitutional law), Bill of Rights, ect. However, while preaching such, indeed, founding principles, they also seem to support our military industrial complex, a rather large and bloated one at that. Something that our Founders would be appalled to see how we have developed such a large standing army.
American tradition has always been to remain neutral, and as Jefferson said, to avoid European entanglements. Though none other than President Eisenhower warned of the potential development of the military industrial complex, here we are today the worlds police spending ourselves into oblivion. Of the half-million soldiers deployed world wide (meaning somewhere other than their country of origin) the United States of course leads the way. Of those half-million the United States has 370,000 troops abroad, not to mention its world wide Naval presence. Of those we have 133,000 in Iraq and at least 20,000 in Afghanistan (these numbers might be pre-build up). In addition with have [source]:
66,418 Germany
53,360 Japan
30,983 South Korea
25,250 Kuwait
11,841 Italy
10,346 United Kingdom
As well as a few hundred to a thousand or so scattered across the globe. One has to wonder, why? Eleven thousand in Italy, really? Especially the 120,000 or so highlighted above, you have to scratch your head and wonder why? How much does this cost us and when can we expect to turn Europe over to Europeans, Italy back to the Italians, Japan back over to Japan, and the Middle East back over to the Middle East. Again, how much does this cost us? $400 Billion a year, $500 Billion, more? To be sure… Europe spends very little on their defend. Ditto Japan. We are trying to compete economically with literally one hand tied behind our back.
No Democrat should compromise and give up a penny on social/welfare programs until the Republicans and others start to drastically cutback on our outrageous military spending. We can no longer afford to be the world’s police. We must look at our own economic survival. That has to include deep cuts in military spending and domestic. We can keep a smaller, better trained, and technologically superior force to deal with today’s unique issues.
The Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II, all found us unprepared militarily in terms of size because of our tradition, deep and resolved tradition, to small standing armies, yet in each we did just fine once mobilized.
That’s how I see it.
Chris
I couldn’t agree more with ending the era of being the world’s policemen. It seems I’ve also heard Glenn Beck say the same thing.
I am not an expert on Glenn Beck I believe I have heard him speak of a strong national defense, and as for the world’s policemen if he said as such I would agree with him! Thanks for the post!
Chris
I have always been fascinated by this timeline:
September 16-27 Nikita Krushchev visits America. He was not allowed to enter Disney World, shoe banging at the U.N. then a very successful meeting with President Eisenhower. According to CIA page they spoke about World War 2 one being supreme commander the other a foot soldier. As well as the outcome of a World War 3.
January 1960 Krushchev unilaterally and unconditionally withdraws 1 million soldiers from Europe Asks NATO to reciprocate.
Allan Dulles urges Eisenhower for “a Last U-2 flight over Russia.
May 1960 U-2 shot down pilot Gary Powers captured April 1961 soon afte Kennedy takes office. The failed Bay of Pigs Invasion,
August 1961 first level of construction of the Berlin Wall.
Sept. 1962 Kennedy now President Russia places ICBMs in Cuba.
August 1961 first level of construction of the Berlin Wall.
Sept. 1962 Kennedy now President Russia places ICBMs in Cuba.. Cuba Missall Crisis I am probably unrealistic but oftened wndered if the last U2 flight had not been ordered. if the Cold war might have not been diffrent? Afterward the Cold war was Point – Counter point with very few options allowed by both sides. If that last flight did not happen might things have been different? If so look at the billions of Dollars that could have been saved plus lives.
Since this topic us about economics I thought it might be important to list some of the economic crises this country has faced. during my adult life time.
1. Oct 19, 1987 “Black Monday” Due to computerized selling which triggered the largest one day per centage decline in Stock Market history.
2. 1989 The Saving and Loan Crisis 747 banks failed Then the Glass – Steagle legislation is repealed. Note: Just before the law was repealed Citi group merged with Travelers giving them Primerica. At that time they became the largest bank in the nation and fourth largest Investment bank. Think of it as giving gamblers access t al depositors accounts without their knowledge when their, money is in play.
3. 1999 number of IPO’s 497
2000 76 IPO’s(not one of those stocks doubled in value their first day)
4. 2000 Dot Com Crash. 280 stocks dropped $1.7 trillion .
.
5. 2000 ENRON
6. 2002 World Com Same year the Sarbanes – Wakly bill is passed stating that trading has to be honest requiring both the CEO and CFO present quarterly M K’s and both sign a statement of honesty of their numbers. Failure to do so could result in imprisonment.
7.2008 13 banks approach the White House requesting capitol. All thirteen receive subsidies
8.1977 – 1980 A period of stagflation High unemployment, combined with high Inflation rates
9.1960-63 “a prolonged period o recession where by the campaign slogan “Get America Moving by JFK.
For me the issue is not just the debt, tBut also the idea of “Too big to fail” with the federal government being the guarantor of banks taking on too much risk, Maybe a paradigm shift to’ too big to succeed” would be helpful.
Ancient Rome faced its Military Industrial Challenge. In the fifth Century, Rome had a half million men in the military spread out through the empire. To maintain this force Rome developed their roads system, built 35 armories to build and repair weapons, established a complex network of food distribution, and soldier payment, Along with this came the employment of thousands of bureaucrats. To manage the system another thousand people were employed to watch over it. Of cause with this much money and opportunity corruption was rife. The Empire responded by raising taxes. Rome collected taxes from three groups. The heaviest taxation fell on the landowners based on holdings and production. Merchants were the next group to be taxed and finally the lowest taxed group the artisans. In an attempt to make this system fair there needed to be clear records of ownership, land appraisal, and measuring of production. Another level of bureaucracies were developed with thousands of additional people employed. There are many records documentation speeches from that era that reveal the frustration and anger about the taxation policy.