Guest Author - Cynthia Phillips
What is the "military-industrial complex?" According to Wikipedia, "Military-industrial complex (MIC) is a concept commonly used to refer to policy relationships between governments, national armed forces, and industrial support they obtain from the commercial sector in political approval for research, development, production, use, and support for military training, weapons, equipment, and facilities within the national defense and security policy." In essence, it’s the military in bed with big business. Just think of McDonnell Douglas, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and many others that are in the business of war. The United States government spends 1 trillion dollars a year on defense as of this year; this just makes me wonder about our economy. If we cut some of the war spending, I wonder if that will elevate our current national debt of 11.3 trillion dollars...hmm... Someone is definitely getting richer while some of us are getting poorer.
The origin of the term, "military-industrial complex," is from a farewell speech of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. "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...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 statehouse, and 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. 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. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together."
After reading the last portion, "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..." It seems that we are already there. Benjamin Franklin has said, "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." Think about the weakening of our civil liberties with the passing of the Patriot Act after 9-11. The government can search your house without a warrant and can spy on you if they suspect you as a "terrorist" and you can forget about habeas corpus after the signing of the Military Commissions Act in 2006.
Eisenhower was right when he said, "We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together." Are we knowledgeable and alert citizens?
