Although I have profound and limitless respect for our armed forces; and it is incredible to imagine The United States as the Christian saviors of the world it is a logistical impossibility that almost always comes with more problems than benefits long term. Everything I need to know on this topic I learned from Mickey Mouse and his tragic apprenticeship (hint: our arrogance creates monsters we can’t control).

Beyond the horrific reality of war and the cost to our youth’s humanity, mental health and quality of life outside of battle back in the real world; war is an economically devastating event. Prices on common goods like leather, steel and kevlar are increased exponentially, invoices are fudged, defense contractors rake Uncle Sam’s credit card through fire and much more en route to incredible profits for “defense” contractors and mile-high debts for American taxpayers. Not to mention the true lotto winners: the financiers who often finance both sides of a conflict and bankroll entire nation’s war chests.

Although we’re often told that WW2 got us out of the depression imagine what our economy would have been like with the resources spent in war being driven into socially useful goods, businesses and bank accounts.

For an infalliably precise perspective on this check out Austrian (in philosophy, not birth) economist Robert Murphy’s brilliant article on WW2 and our exit from The Depression here.

As Marine Major General Smedley Butler said, “War is a racket!” This same sentiment was echoed by President Eisenhower in his farwell address to America regarding the military-industrial complex, the corporations that run it, and the incredible risk to The American Way that it poses.

If we seek to return to prosperity, peace and passionate pride we must redefine what it means to be a “good American.”

Here’s the article about our involvement in Lybia continuing indefinitely, arg.