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Posted on 05/16/2014 7:35:26 AM PDT by Lazamataz
You may have never seen this quote. It may never have been taught to you in school, when studying the Founding Fathers. There may be a reason this particular quote was omitted -- perhaps the powers-that-be did not want you to focus on the truth contained therein.
Dwight D. Eisenhower, on January 17, 1961, famously warned us of the 'military-industrial complex'. Yet, in that speech, he spent little time in describing the results should we not heed his warning. George Washington, on the other hand, succinct laid out the results in a single sentence.
We see that our first President is entirely correct. Our over-grown military establishment is bleeding into the civilian living space: We have 'excess' MRAP armored vehicles being delivered to local law enforcement; we have drones that were pioneered by the military being increasingly used against the American populace; we are now universally monitored and spied upon; and more and more, we see the training and doctrine of the United States Military being applied by law enforcement.
No one would argue that we, in America, are not rushing headlong into a totalitarian police state. George Washington informs us that it was inevitable, when we decided to have the most over-grown military in the world.
The Official Lazamataz Sometimes-Funny, Sometimes-Disturbing Ping List
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Completely agree with you, Laz.
President Eisenhower’s 1961 (often taken out of context) “military industrial complex” speech contributes to an enduring negative view of the defense industry.
President Eisenhower’s speech is cited as a warning about the defense industry and its growing influence among the “councils of government.” However, in context, in the speech, President Eisenhower acknowledged the need for a robust defense industry and called on informed citizenry and politicos to “recognize the imperative need for this development.” (The “development” referred to a healthy defense industry).
Consequently, far from condemning the defense industry, he was recognizing its vital role in advancing US political, economic and military goals.*
*—Military-Industrial Complex Speech, Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961, Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, January 17, 1961 “Press release containing the text of the address;” http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/online_documents/farewell_address/1961_01_17_Press_Release.pdf
Drawdown of the military in time of peace is good and normal practice for just these reasons. Could this have as much to do with the destruction of huge amounts of military hardware after WWII as not wanting to flood the post war economy with cheap goods? My Dad flew brand new airplanes around the pattern, taxied them to a draining area and then the engines were chopped off and the fuselages were stacked up with the tails in the air to be melted and recycled.
Gutting the military as now and destroying its morale is a completely different matter though.
Seeing what the industry has turned into (and having made quite a bit of money working in it) the conventional interpretation of Eisenhower’s speech is correct. The “military industrial” complex is nothing but corporate welfare for people who once lived in Orange County California but now reside inside the capitol beltway in DC.
Sucking on the teet of the taxpayer to enrich themselves. It is why DC has been recession proof since 9/11
Good find, Laz!
Big difference between gutting the military, and giving welfare to friends of Congress.
We can have the most powerful fighting force in the history of the world without spending 1 trillion dollars a year
Your response is perfect, and I can find no fault with it.
bump
sucking at the teet of future taxpayers too
(Curtsey)
Rather than be whipped; I am bumping this thread.
I suspect the actual purpose of the MRAP vehicles is to give money to their manufacturers. However, they massively over-militarize civilian authorities. I’ve written about this before, but here goes again. I had two elderly tenants in a singlewide mobile home. Apparently, he was beating her as they spent 99.99% of their time drunk. She called the sheriff and three of them showed up. The deputies noticed 48 10’’ pot plants within sight of the door. The two were so drunk the cops put them to bed. That night a SWAT team with an MRAP broke MY door off the hinges and arrested the couple. There were 12 SWAT members and an MRAP. I suppose I’m lucky they didn’t ram the MRAP through my mobile home. Tell me, were not three deputies sufficient to arrest two elderly people who were so drunk they had to be put to bed? Why was it necessary to use 12 SWAT members and an MRAP? (Answer, because they get OT and hazard pay and they have the MRAP.)
The local police are over-militarized. Look at how they act in Venezuela. They use their MRAP’s as mobile pill boxes and shoot unarmed civilians from them. Is that what we want?
At the same time, the police are becoming much more violent. Before, say 1995, I never recall a cop shooting a dog. If they were attacked they had pepper spray and probably Tasers. Now, officers seem to shoot just because they can. I used to love my local cops. I worked on charity events that benefited them, bought K9’s etc. I now fear my local cops. Their very nature has changed.
Read the entire speech, other version he wrote and his notes.
What you feel about the situation has no bearing as to what he actually said.
Have a nice day.
Bump mark. I have mused on this for a long time. Perhaps I can compose something of a worthwhile contribution later. It’s tricky and touchy in today’s climate.
Tank you for that...
Didn’t know you had a list!
Add me brother!
To gain publicity and help just the next over the top expenditure.
Got to show the public they are putting their military gear to use. Or they won't get funding for the next stuff.
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