Disarmament

I think that history has now shown that, without a doubt, the U.S. foreign and interventionist, military policy has been geared for nothing more than the accumulation of capital and power.

I believe we wage wars not for freedom or to protect our democracy as we are told but for money and resources. Corporations have the power. It’s been bought and paid for. Terror, destabilization and war around the globe are good for business. Arms manufacturers sell their deadly products to our government. They are paid for with our tax dollars. They are used by our gluttonous military to wage war, or they are stockpiled, or they are sold to corrupt governments and apartheid regimes which destabilize societies and cause an escalation in violence. That in turn brings more business to the arms manufacturers. It is nothing more than a perpetual circle of blood for money.

I believe some of the tax dollars that get funneled into our mighty, military machine are spent for propaganda and advertising. This is done to recruit young men and women to join the crusade. And to promote that our killing machines and our young people who are taught to use them are a force for good. Often, if people in our military stay in the military, rise in the ranks and then retire, they can get good jobs in the government or as consultants or lobbyist with the big arms manufactures. Many more come home from war physically and emotionally scarred, not cared for, or worst of all, in flag-draped coffins.

When will we prove that we truly are peace-loving people? When will we disarm?

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Disarmament."