that '70's show

Retro 70's fashion is OK. '70's economic mistakes and war mongering is not. Since WW2 the US has driven its economy to a large degree by war. Yes folks, for over 50 years war has been the solution of our government. This is confirmed by some economists who have studied the FDR presidency, only it worked in that case, due to many other factors not present now. Of course there are other reasons to wage war, but if it is not in a country's economic advantage or related concerns of sovereignty they will not wage war. This is world history. Although modern politicians would like us other wise.

Lets do a quick and dirty OM rundown. Fat cat generals and other goons who grew powerful in a well funded war machine post WW2 were giddy by the effectiveness and funding of that machine. The new enemy, perhaps rightly, was communism. The Korean war was the testing ground necessary to show the American people how dangerous the reds were, and establish the new enemy in the public eye. Plus they got to try out new weapons not ready in time for ww2. It costs a lot of money to make all those weapons, hell even simple tools! Does anyone remember the $700 screwdrivers and toilet seats the government was paying for in the '80's?

Then Vietnam. JFK was reportedly about to write off most support for the cause...about the time he was murdered. Hmmm. Unpopular war, many dead, no results, for over 10 years. Even war supporters should have known after Tet it was a done deal. Why stay? Because it meant big money. That napalm costs a lot.

So much taxpayer money is diverted to defense industries, that other areas suffer...but it takes a while to shake out economically. At first jobs are created, money is made, etc. See the 1950's US (again many different circumstances not present today). Not a bad time economically speaking. Then the '70s. Oil embargoes, unemployment skyrockets, horrible inflation. Earlier this summer I read 'Decent Interval' about the final days of US presence in Saigon. The US tried to milk the cash cow until it was literally chased out of the city, April 1975. The problems were already rearing their heads at home though. Somehow under Carter's semi-sane judgment (he came close to legalizing Cannabis also), the US made it through the '70's.

Enter Reagan. Reaganomics. Cut from other programs, build up arms race, funnel money to defense contractors. Necessary? I guess we'll never know but the USSR was bankrupt, and corrupt by the late '80's. Bush 1, floated down the pike. Didn't enter Iraq; good, didn't do much else; bad. Clinton, good times overall (perhaps not in Bosnia). Budget surpluses, very low fuel prices. Country was calm and watching Seinfeld every Thursday.

Now the current dickheaded administration, out of greed and stupidity invades Iraq for oil, and strategic control of the region. Budget surpluses blown quickly; fuel prices begin to rise. Public funds increasingly channeled to private war and reconstruction contractors (cut out that troublesome red tape and feed the monkey directly), often unaccountable. Some of these connected to private business interest of the VP and others. Still flushing trillions into Iraq with no result. Sound like Vietnam? After studying Vietnam the dark hand realized that keeping US body counts low was the key to protracted war. Only they didn't realize (or maybe they do) they are pushing the economy to the brink. They are using old solutions to new problems, and doing it in a much more greedy and reckless manor. We are only seeing the beginning of the problems.

And I'm pretty fucking pissed off about it.

Conclusion: War is not a viable economic strategy. People suffer and die. Even animals treat each other better.