...and let's not forget who started it all, our very own Defense Industrial Complex, without whom we might very well be getting on much more harmoniously with our earthly neighbors.
I didn't say we don't need a national defense; of course we do. But I really don't sleep better at night knowing that America's defense budget is the same size as that of the next twelve largest countries on earth...COMBINED.
Why do we need to spend $1.5 TRILLION DOLLARS on a fighter plane that's already an obsolete boondoggle? Because the shareholders of Boeing and Lockheed Martin each have one of the most powerful legal and lobbying firms on earth, and they want their quarterly earnings reports to look good, no matter if it's bankrupting the country.
Under Reagan, there was at least thin justification, what with winning the Cold War and all. Now, there's no threat that justifies even a quarter of our current defense budget, except that 'jobs would be lost!' in EVERY SENATOR'S DISTRICT. This isn't coincidence, it's legalized, institutionalized corruption- only its worse than mere racism, it's militarism run amok. Accountable to no one, certainly not an unsuspecting American populace.
But don't worry; we just put our country's latest Great Depression behind us... or did we? Who remembers what happened after the last depression 'ended'? Anyone?
Does WORLD WAR TWO ring any bells?!
Goddammit, history is repeating itself; and now the greedheads took over our government AGAIN and are steering us towards another war, and another, and another... cuz, you know, they're profitable!
Only now with nuclear weapons in the world such brinksmanship risks everyone, no matter who, no matter where and no matter how rich. Such is their folly, and We the People must stop them before it's too late.
Think I'm painting an alarmist, extremist position? I'm open to debate.