mycatharsis.com

Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry.  ….

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes.

Actually, that was Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell address of January 17, 1961.  Eisenhower saw the rise of military industrial complex  and the dangers it represented to the established way of life at the time were clear.  I think it’s interesting that we barely take notice of it nowadays, myself included.  Like the income tax, it’s always been there for me, just a part of life.  Even a cynic like me has to be constantly reminded to question our current paradigms, there is so much about the way we live that we just accept, even though it wasn’t always like this.

And in case anyone would accuse Eisenhower of going ’soft’ … from the same speech …

A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction.

Eisenhower understands what Bush and Cheney do not.  Security and Liberty do NOT have to be mutually exclusive.

Found this quote in piece from The Atlantic  about another cottage industry we’ve grown, namely building and incarcerating millions of our own citizens, most of them non-violent…