Jobs used as bargaining chip

[Griff]

Originally Posted by classicman

Think of him what you will, but he put his life on the line repeatedly for you to be able to come here and complain about him.

9/11 was long enough ago that we no longer have to pretend that is true. Our over-size military is more a threat to our way of life than any petty tyrant overseas. We damage our people by brain-washing them to believe false ideologies and then bring them back to civilian life with a skewed vision of reality and too often mental disorders from the violence that leaves a swath of damaged families that the unnecessary folks like teachers, health care workers, and social workers have to clean up after. The real founding fathers believe a standing army to be a threat to liberty. They were correct. rant off

[classicman]

Originally Posted by Griff

The real founding fathers believe a standing army to be a threat to liberty.

I can appreciate your perspective, but
The founding fathers also kept slaves and didn't think women deserved the right to vote ... and and and ... Its a different world.

[Griff]

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

Ike recognized the need and the danger. The effect on our national spirit having already taken its toll, we live with a government capable of shocking violence compared to what middle American expectations were before WWII. This violence is sold to us with great moral surety. Based on our spending and debt the use of violence for national ends is regarded more highly than any other single economic or political value. It is a different world, one of our own making.