As any Senator will tell you, the US economy would probably collapse if we shut down the military machine. They have made sure that war is an essential aspect of the US economic system as a shield against any attempts to reduce military spending. So while it would be nice, it is not going to happen until we refocus the economy on productive things rather than destructive ones.
nothing wrong with retirement with a good pention to back it up. Government employee resume reads: Paper pusher. Save a tree (save a forest) and fire em all.
Unfortunately we are the United States economy that is so entwined now at present 2025 you'd need a time machine to go back before our technology, and military corporate defense contracts and military itself became so powerful globally that now to stop it all would cause so much economic instability on our economy at the very least that in other words it is never going to happen in our lifetimes. Unless and until there is a global shift in priorities as in taking it to the streets with a new awareness towards world peace and instead a war on war, famine, injustice, ending, or even slowing global warming, the greenhouse effect, and maybe even resetting the doomsday clock to a more hospitable time before it strikes midnight for all the inhabitants of this our small living planet Earth. Then and only then we can shift our priorities to exploring space and not with a space force, but really explore both inner and outer space for the betterment of our one human species...
Yes, back in 1963 then-Senator George McGovern proposed a plan to convert the arms industry to civilian uses. Such a conversion would take time but it could be done in a way to reduce economic disruption.
I can't disagree with your assessment of the Pentagon, but the Pentagon is only a symptom and not the cause of our military adventurism. The military only carries out the policies that are made by the politicians and their patrons who profit from military adventurism and waste. In order to curb the excesses of our military, we must first wrench control of our government from the war profiteers.
One of the key problems is the appointment of retiring generals and admirals to the corporate boards of Boeing, Northrop-Grumman, Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon and other weapons makers. These flag officers are hired for their contacts and influence inside the Pentagon and inside Congress. They move from being beneficiaries of the policies made by the politicians to being patrons of those same politicians in a system that has become a self-licking ice cream cone.
If DoD returned to its original name, Americanas would be reminded of its purpose: war. Calling it "Defense" lends the idea that America is under attack, which is certainly not even close to the truth if our history since the end of WW2 is any indication. I have always suspected that the choice of "Defense" was to mislead the American people in a propagandistic sleight of hand.
I would not disagree the purpose was to mislead, but am not certain. Most government folks think they are pure in thought and may actually have believed in "Defense." Of course, they are not pure in thought.
As chairman, CEO and only member of the neutralistassociationofthe.us bringing everybody home and pursuing a neutralist foreign policy and ethos would mean Department of Defense could become accurate.
One of the worst lessons that our government learned after WW2 was a thousand ways to propagandize the public. In NSC-68, it decided to scare the hell out of the American public in order to get permission, if you will, to spend extravagantly on war materiel. Through the National Security Council, the CIA, and the Pentagon, Americans were subjected to the "manufacture of consent." Changing the name of the War Department to Defense was a foil used to hide the actual purpose of war in this country. It is a lie to call it the Defense Department when our history since the end of WW2 shows that every war we have been in since that time has been wars of aggression (in small and poor countries often for proxy purposes), not wars for our defense.
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 state house, 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.
Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture, has been the technological revolution during recent decades.
In this revolution, research has become central; it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.
Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been over shadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.
The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded.
Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.
It is the task of statesmanship to mold, to balance, and to integrate these and other forces, new and old, within the principles of our democratic system-ever aiming toward the supreme goals of our free society.
"The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded."
We just saw the example of this these 64 years later with Trump bringing Columbia University to heel threatening to take away $400 Million in Federal funding.
Great post, Bill! But instead of sending them off to the fronts, apparently they will be needed to pick all the fruits, berries and lettuce after the real workers in the country are deported.
"Yes, it’s America’s very own Pentagon, built in record time in the early months of World War II to manage that colossal war"
Actually, it was built to be a hospital in anticipation of 10's of thousands of military casualties from the war. By the time it was completed It was obvious it wouldn't be needed as a hospital, so it was converted to war planning offices.
FIrst, I wouldn't count on snopes as the ultimate fact checker. They're pretty good, but I've seen more than one mistake.
Second, during my time in the building, the intent to use it as a hospital was common knowledge. It was also the story that tour guides told to visitors. One of the key features of the building are the long, wide ramps between the floors that were said to be intended for moving gurneys carrying wounded and sick patients. I can't think of another reason for those ramps as they are a very inefficient use of space. There are other features of the building that would be useful as a medical facility.
But I really don't want to get distracted from the point of your post. The Pentagon is no longer a service to our nation. I would not destroy it, but It would make a great museum.
you're singing to the choir Bill. Have you been to the Devil's Post Pile in the Mammoth Lake area CA. Well that's our Pentagon: the Devil's Post Pile. It's where our demons lerk scheming Faustian contracts on the weak and naive. A hell hole of deception. DOGE should wreak on them what they wreak on the world. then DOGE should fire itself.
One of your best, Bill.
Attempts were made to levitate it, but I guess it could go no higher, not even spiritually. It's the premium place of war worship, after all.
Now try to eliminate it and answer all our prayers.
As any Senator will tell you, the US economy would probably collapse if we shut down the military machine. They have made sure that war is an essential aspect of the US economic system as a shield against any attempts to reduce military spending. So while it would be nice, it is not going to happen until we refocus the economy on productive things rather than destructive ones.
nothing wrong with retirement with a good pention to back it up. Government employee resume reads: Paper pusher. Save a tree (save a forest) and fire em all.
Unfortunately we are the United States economy that is so entwined now at present 2025 you'd need a time machine to go back before our technology, and military corporate defense contracts and military itself became so powerful globally that now to stop it all would cause so much economic instability on our economy at the very least that in other words it is never going to happen in our lifetimes. Unless and until there is a global shift in priorities as in taking it to the streets with a new awareness towards world peace and instead a war on war, famine, injustice, ending, or even slowing global warming, the greenhouse effect, and maybe even resetting the doomsday clock to a more hospitable time before it strikes midnight for all the inhabitants of this our small living planet Earth. Then and only then we can shift our priorities to exploring space and not with a space force, but really explore both inner and outer space for the betterment of our one human species...
Yes, back in 1963 then-Senator George McGovern proposed a plan to convert the arms industry to civilian uses. Such a conversion would take time but it could be done in a way to reduce economic disruption.
All we lack is the will to do so.
I can't disagree with your assessment of the Pentagon, but the Pentagon is only a symptom and not the cause of our military adventurism. The military only carries out the policies that are made by the politicians and their patrons who profit from military adventurism and waste. In order to curb the excesses of our military, we must first wrench control of our government from the war profiteers.
I would say it's symptom and cause (among other causes).
One of the key problems is the appointment of retiring generals and admirals to the corporate boards of Boeing, Northrop-Grumman, Lockheed-Martin, Raytheon and other weapons makers. These flag officers are hired for their contacts and influence inside the Pentagon and inside Congress. They move from being beneficiaries of the policies made by the politicians to being patrons of those same politicians in a system that has become a self-licking ice cream cone.
After downsizing the Pentagon, change the name of the Defense Department back to the War Department. It should be accurately named.
Yeah, it was Department of War until late '40s. After becoming Defense, it kinda stopped defending and has been offending since.
Should be called Department of Offense.
If DoD returned to its original name, Americanas would be reminded of its purpose: war. Calling it "Defense" lends the idea that America is under attack, which is certainly not even close to the truth if our history since the end of WW2 is any indication. I have always suspected that the choice of "Defense" was to mislead the American people in a propagandistic sleight of hand.
I would not disagree the purpose was to mislead, but am not certain. Most government folks think they are pure in thought and may actually have believed in "Defense." Of course, they are not pure in thought.
As chairman, CEO and only member of the neutralistassociationofthe.us bringing everybody home and pursuing a neutralist foreign policy and ethos would mean Department of Defense could become accurate.
One of the worst lessons that our government learned after WW2 was a thousand ways to propagandize the public. In NSC-68, it decided to scare the hell out of the American public in order to get permission, if you will, to spend extravagantly on war materiel. Through the National Security Council, the CIA, and the Pentagon, Americans were subjected to the "manufacture of consent." Changing the name of the War Department to Defense was a foil used to hide the actual purpose of war in this country. It is a lie to call it the Defense Department when our history since the end of WW2 shows that every war we have been in since that time has been wars of aggression (in small and poor countries often for proxy purposes), not wars for our defense.
Eisenhower's 1961 Military-Industrial Complex speech;
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 state house, 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.
Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture, has been the technological revolution during recent decades.
In this revolution, research has become central; it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.
Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been over shadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.
The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded.
Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.
It is the task of statesmanship to mold, to balance, and to integrate these and other forces, new and old, within the principles of our democratic system-ever aiming toward the supreme goals of our free society.
"The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded."
We just saw the example of this these 64 years later with Trump bringing Columbia University to heel threatening to take away $400 Million in Federal funding.
Great post, Bill! But instead of sending them off to the fronts, apparently they will be needed to pick all the fruits, berries and lettuce after the real workers in the country are deported.
Not a bad idea ... :-)
"A hive of scum and villainy." Close it down.
"Yes, it’s America’s very own Pentagon, built in record time in the early months of World War II to manage that colossal war"
Actually, it was built to be a hospital in anticipation of 10's of thousands of military casualties from the war. By the time it was completed It was obvious it wouldn't be needed as a hospital, so it was converted to war planning offices.
Apparently, the Pentagon as hospital is not true: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/medical-center/
There appears to have been some discussion after WWII of converting the Pentagon to a better use -- but what's better than war, right?
FIrst, I wouldn't count on snopes as the ultimate fact checker. They're pretty good, but I've seen more than one mistake.
Second, during my time in the building, the intent to use it as a hospital was common knowledge. It was also the story that tour guides told to visitors. One of the key features of the building are the long, wide ramps between the floors that were said to be intended for moving gurneys carrying wounded and sick patients. I can't think of another reason for those ramps as they are a very inefficient use of space. There are other features of the building that would be useful as a medical facility.
But I really don't want to get distracted from the point of your post. The Pentagon is no longer a service to our nation. I would not destroy it, but It would make a great museum.
you're singing to the choir Bill. Have you been to the Devil's Post Pile in the Mammoth Lake area CA. Well that's our Pentagon: the Devil's Post Pile. It's where our demons lerk scheming Faustian contracts on the weak and naive. A hell hole of deception. DOGE should wreak on them what they wreak on the world. then DOGE should fire itself.
Refuse Fascism
Oppose Oppression
People
Planet
Peace
dear comrades
I've been to the Devil's Den at Gettysburg but not the Devil's Post Pile. Sounds fascinating.