Starting in the middle of the 20th century America's conservatives found a face to hang upon the otherwise faceless political evil that embodied everything that was different than they were. Having vanquished both Hitler and Hirohito, America as a whole, felt a great sense of relief as well as an enormous sense of accomplishment. Even more importantly, America began to feel the strength of its enormous power. It had become the undisputed master of the world.
After the Second World War, America entered into a period of prosperity unmatched in its comparatively short history. It did so after overcoming a massive depression by way of the bloodiest and most brutal war in human history. Some Americans found the peace and prosperity a just reward for their incredible collective sacrifice and life was good.
For others the successful conclusion of the war had a different meaning. It brought an end to what defined them. It dampened the river of power and wealth whose headwaters were the very act of war. A not too original thought took shape in the many-headed beast that would soon become named the military-industrial complex. To these few who found no satisfaction in peace, it had become obvious that war was good for business.
It was not many years later that the basis for another war was identified and the riverbed of power and wealth was filled once again. This one too was bloody and brutal and had a well-defined enemy. It gave America another chance to demonstrate its power, which it did so willingly. In many ways big business was pleased with this effort as well.
Not ten years later, another opportunity surfaced. Another chance to fight a proxie war against the communist east. Kennedy opened the door and Johnson rushed us in. The military industrial complex was all smiles. Another dream come true. Despite the the red river of American blood it cost.
This time and this war were different. This time the enemy was not so easily subdued, despite the huge capital investment in ever more sophisticated munitions and war machines. And this time the war was not so popular at home and the sacrifices not so willingly given as it was for the big one.
But the military-industrial complex was strong and the will of the country's leaders was weak. The war churned on consuming lives and vast sums of money.
The recipients of the money loved the war and the wealth i brought them. When at last the US withdrew, the filthy rich and powerful just looked around for a new enemy. Fortunately for them we already had one - the Soviet Union.
Once the MIC leadership got the fear levels driven up high enough in the average citizen, the federal government, once again, began pouring huge quantities of taxpayer money into new weapons systems. The 70s and 80s were a great time to be in the defense industry. Rivers of money flowed into new and better weapon systems. And the ultra-rich smiled and partied. Life
was good.
Sadly for them, Gorbachev turned out to be a sensible, intelligent and moderate politician who ended the cold war.
The green river of taxpayer cash started to dry up. Projects were canceled and the defense industry shed jobs and shrank.
Not too many years later September 11th happened and America could once again put a face on the "enemy".
Today, the MIC lives on with two of the longest wars in the country's history flooding the green river with untold billions.
Meanwhile, Wall Street, feeling left out, engaged in some of the dirtiest, most underhanded financial dealings that ultimately wrecked the economy. But, answering this criminal behavior in a most predictable way, the Feds just dished out vast, I means VAST amounts of taxpayer money to "fix" the "too big to fail" corporations.
So, the fat cats in the MIC drive us into wars and then work very hard to keep us there - sucking down Billions upon Billions while the Wall Street fat cats gamble with mind-boggling sums, lose, get paid back from the treasury and walk away - each with enough cash to make a thousand people rich...
And then we have people like Mitt Romney running for the presidency - a poster child for the MIC, Wall Street and Big Oil.
All this is just meant to shed a little light on the folks that demonize socialism. Because the last thing in the world they want is the "people" to have control over the critical resources they need for their everyday existence. Or, to be in a position to say "NO" to unnecessary and pointless wars.
There is and always has been two classes of people in this country. The rich and powerful who believe they have a fundamental right to be in charge and the rest of us who are here to serve them.
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