| Chapter Sixteen of Pax Americana: The Military Industrial Complex and the War On Terror by Danny Quintana |
| Creating new markets with Space and Ocean Exploration |
Historically, defense spending, via the infamous Military-Industrial-Complex, has been used to prop up the economy. This politically popular
economic policy no longer works in creating jobs. In today’s world, the $100 billion dollar plus Missile Defense System,1 (a new version of
Reagan’s Star Wars program), the $200 billion dollar plus F-22 fighter system,2 and even the $500 billion to $Two Trillion dollar plus
Iraq War, will not create the 150,000 new jobs per month required to absorb the new entries into the job market. Defense spending no longer
works as economic policy.
economic policy no longer works in creating jobs. In today’s world, the $100 billion dollar plus Missile Defense System,1 (a new version of
Reagan’s Star Wars program), the $200 billion dollar plus F-22 fighter system,2 and even the $500 billion to $Two Trillion dollar plus
Iraq War, will not create the 150,000 new jobs per month required to absorb the new entries into the job market. Defense spending no longer
works as economic policy.
Lower foreign labor costs, not taxes are the primary reason jobs are being transferred abroad. Unfortunately for American, European and
Japanese workers, labor is now a just another global commodity. If this commodity can be purchased cheaper, with the same quality abroad,
companies are going to buy for less as market forces dictate. Like it or not, globalization and the internet are here to stay. Industrialized
countries’ labor costs are going to decrease and Indian, Chinese, Mexican and other labor pools will increase until there is market equilibrium.
This supernatural law of supply and demand will resolve the labor issue, regardless of the wisdom or folly in reducing taxes at a time of
budget deficits and a foreign military adventure. Absent the creation of new markets, like those created by the Inter-State Highway System in
the 50’s and the Internet in the 90’s, millions of new jobs will not be there with or without decreasing taxes and/or increasing defense spending.
A policy change that will create new jobs is very slowly re-directing defense spending at two percent per year toward space and ocean
exploration. The US defense budget defies the laws of gravity and at approximately $500 billion dollars per year, is larger than the defense
budgets of the next 20 countries combined. The Military-Industrial Complex is going to get the tax dollars anyway. They have Congress wired
right down to the last vote. There is either a defense contractor and/or a military installation in virtually every Congressional District in the
nation. Every Congressman has their very own Air Force, Army, or Navy Base complete with the necessary companies to provided them
wanted or unwanted products and services. The defense contractors are going to get our tax dollars with or without a change in policy that will
create millions of new jobs.
Space and ocean exploration will keep jobs in communities where defense spending currently provides employment. Converting these
defense jobs, not from swords to plowshares, but from fighter planes and bombers to space ships and from aircraft carriers and nuclear
armed attack submarines, to deep ocean exploration and mining vessels will create new markets. These vast new markets will in turn create
millions of new jobs. The same defense contractors that are building the truly worthless missile defense system, the F-22, the Joint Strike
Fighter, can be converted to building a moon base, saving the Hubble telescope, and eventually landing a US expedition on Mars, the Red
planet of war. Eventually, these same companies can mine the asteroid belt and continue to explore the inner solar system. This is doable
and politically feasible.
Japanese workers, labor is now a just another global commodity. If this commodity can be purchased cheaper, with the same quality abroad,
companies are going to buy for less as market forces dictate. Like it or not, globalization and the internet are here to stay. Industrialized
countries’ labor costs are going to decrease and Indian, Chinese, Mexican and other labor pools will increase until there is market equilibrium.
This supernatural law of supply and demand will resolve the labor issue, regardless of the wisdom or folly in reducing taxes at a time of
budget deficits and a foreign military adventure. Absent the creation of new markets, like those created by the Inter-State Highway System in
the 50’s and the Internet in the 90’s, millions of new jobs will not be there with or without decreasing taxes and/or increasing defense spending.
A policy change that will create new jobs is very slowly re-directing defense spending at two percent per year toward space and ocean
exploration. The US defense budget defies the laws of gravity and at approximately $500 billion dollars per year, is larger than the defense
budgets of the next 20 countries combined. The Military-Industrial Complex is going to get the tax dollars anyway. They have Congress wired
right down to the last vote. There is either a defense contractor and/or a military installation in virtually every Congressional District in the
nation. Every Congressman has their very own Air Force, Army, or Navy Base complete with the necessary companies to provided them
wanted or unwanted products and services. The defense contractors are going to get our tax dollars with or without a change in policy that will
create millions of new jobs.
Space and ocean exploration will keep jobs in communities where defense spending currently provides employment. Converting these
defense jobs, not from swords to plowshares, but from fighter planes and bombers to space ships and from aircraft carriers and nuclear
armed attack submarines, to deep ocean exploration and mining vessels will create new markets. These vast new markets will in turn create
millions of new jobs. The same defense contractors that are building the truly worthless missile defense system, the F-22, the Joint Strike
Fighter, can be converted to building a moon base, saving the Hubble telescope, and eventually landing a US expedition on Mars, the Red
planet of war. Eventually, these same companies can mine the asteroid belt and continue to explore the inner solar system. This is doable
and politically feasible.
The Iraq War cost is a national scandal. Both political parties have
benefited from defense money flowing into their congressional districts.
Thus neither party will vote to cut funding which would immediately end
the war. The current cost is estimated at $8.2 Billion dollars per week,
but the true cost is unknown as there are the follow up costs from the
thousands of veterans who will require care for many decades. 3Jobs
are created with new markets. In the 1950’s the new markets created by
the Interstate Highway System wereautomobiles, oil services and the
infrastructure that went with them. In the 1960’s, and 70’s, the American
auto industry lost millions of jobs to foreign competition as the world
economy started to develop and globalization was in it’s infancy.
benefited from defense money flowing into their congressional districts.
Thus neither party will vote to cut funding which would immediately end
the war. The current cost is estimated at $8.2 Billion dollars per week,
but the true cost is unknown as there are the follow up costs from the
thousands of veterans who will require care for many decades. 3Jobs
are created with new markets. In the 1950’s the new markets created by
the Interstate Highway System wereautomobiles, oil services and the
infrastructure that went with them. In the 1960’s, and 70’s, the American
auto industry lost millions of jobs to foreign competition as the world
economy started to develop and globalization was in it’s infancy.
The F-22 has many advantages over other fighter planes save one: it
cannot stop some misguided youth from getting on an inner city bus
with dynamite strapped to his or her waist. The missile defense
system will not protect American troops pinned down in a fire fight
while they try to next conquer Vancouver or Stockholm or some other
city where invaders might not be welcome. And they will not stop
criminal terrorists.Our navy contractors who built our great aircraft
carrier battle groups, and nuclear submarines can be converted to
explore the 95% of the ocean floor that is still unexplored, much less
mined. We do know from the very little exploration that exists that
there are vast resources under the waves waiting for the brave nation
or individuals who will venture forth to harness them. Like previous
explorers, courage will be required.
cannot stop some misguided youth from getting on an inner city bus
with dynamite strapped to his or her waist. The missile defense
system will not protect American troops pinned down in a fire fight
while they try to next conquer Vancouver or Stockholm or some other
city where invaders might not be welcome. And they will not stop
criminal terrorists.Our navy contractors who built our great aircraft
carrier battle groups, and nuclear submarines can be converted to
explore the 95% of the ocean floor that is still unexplored, much less
mined. We do know from the very little exploration that exists that
there are vast resources under the waves waiting for the brave nation
or individuals who will venture forth to harness them. Like previous
explorers, courage will be required.
It is in our national interest to go forward with space and ocean exploration. The nations that ventured forward in the Exploration Age
succeeded and advanced. Those who failed to go forward with exploration were left behind by history. Whether or not American politicians
choose to change policy and explore the inner solar system and the ocean floor, other nations will. The first human on Mars may be Chinese
or God forbid, French! Defense spending and the Military Industrial Complex provided Americans with national security from the forces of
Communism and before the Red Menace, Fascism. These international criminals, whom are mistakenly called “terrorists” have no political
agenda. They just like to kill people. In every society there are a small handful of sick and disgusting, pathetic individuals who cause harm to
innocents. Like it or not, we are now a global society and with it come the criminals with their “causes”.
Our complex and very expensive weapon systems will not protect us as in security you have to be right 100% of the time. In crime/terrorism,
you only have to be right once. International law and cooperation with other nations in finding, capturing and bringing to justice these handful
of killers will work better then keeping unwanted military bases open in powerful Congressional Districts or forcing the military to
purchase expensive weapons that will make profits for defense contractor who also contributed monies to their favorite politicians. Converting
these defense industries will also keep votes in the hands of politicians where they currently exist. Thus, this change in policy is politically
viable.Space and ocean exploration will further our technological leads in our sectors where they currently exist. New technologies will develop
from these policy changes. We have better cars and trucks and electronic products as a result of the new markets and foreign competition of
the last century. We will have better spacecrafts as we compete with the Europeans, the Russians and the Asians for the resources of the
Moon, Mars and beyond. The Navy can be given the added task of protection of the dwindling fish stocks which are on the edge of collapse.
International Wildlife Zones that are off limits to fishing can be created and enforced by the powerful fleet which currently can bomb distasteful
despots with large oil reserves. Since I particularly like seafood, I think protecting these interesting and tasty creatures is important.
succeeded and advanced. Those who failed to go forward with exploration were left behind by history. Whether or not American politicians
choose to change policy and explore the inner solar system and the ocean floor, other nations will. The first human on Mars may be Chinese
or God forbid, French! Defense spending and the Military Industrial Complex provided Americans with national security from the forces of
Communism and before the Red Menace, Fascism. These international criminals, whom are mistakenly called “terrorists” have no political
agenda. They just like to kill people. In every society there are a small handful of sick and disgusting, pathetic individuals who cause harm to
innocents. Like it or not, we are now a global society and with it come the criminals with their “causes”.
Our complex and very expensive weapon systems will not protect us as in security you have to be right 100% of the time. In crime/terrorism,
you only have to be right once. International law and cooperation with other nations in finding, capturing and bringing to justice these handful
of killers will work better then keeping unwanted military bases open in powerful Congressional Districts or forcing the military to
purchase expensive weapons that will make profits for defense contractor who also contributed monies to their favorite politicians. Converting
these defense industries will also keep votes in the hands of politicians where they currently exist. Thus, this change in policy is politically
viable.Space and ocean exploration will further our technological leads in our sectors where they currently exist. New technologies will develop
from these policy changes. We have better cars and trucks and electronic products as a result of the new markets and foreign competition of
the last century. We will have better spacecrafts as we compete with the Europeans, the Russians and the Asians for the resources of the
Moon, Mars and beyond. The Navy can be given the added task of protection of the dwindling fish stocks which are on the edge of collapse.
International Wildlife Zones that are off limits to fishing can be created and enforced by the powerful fleet which currently can bomb distasteful
despots with large oil reserves. Since I particularly like seafood, I think protecting these interesting and tasty creatures is important.
Creating new jobs will require the courage of President Eisenhower with the policy that brought forth
the Inter-State System and challenged Americans with this warning:
“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.”
the Inter-State System and challenged Americans with this warning:
“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.”
A change in direction does not mean an end of national security. What is means is that new markets will be created by shifting resources
toward outer space and below the oceans. We have conquered the planet. We do not know what is under the sea since most of the ocean
floor has not been explored. And we clearly do not know everything about the inner solar system as a few robots landing on distant planets
will not give us a clear understanding of these foreign worlds. We need to have the courage of our ancestors and explore the unknown. It will
be difficult, but that is the challenge and what makes it so exciting. If it was easy, we would already have men and women on Mars and would
have knowledge about the ocean floor and the vast resources that are under the seas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
1. For an excellent overview of the missile defense system, see Federation of American Scientists,
"National Missile Defense" online at:www.fas.org/spp/starwars/program/nmd/
2. There are several very good sites on the costs of the F22 fighter program. While this fighter will keep America's air superiority for several
decades in this new century, it will not stop 19 year old men from entering a shopping mall with a stick of dynamite or a machine gun. The
threat to America is not from other nations, but from ideological zealots, environmental degradation and global poverty. Russia and China will
not be attacking any time soon since they are important trading partners for Corporate America. An excellent overview of the extraordinary
costs of this amazing fighter plane can be found at: Global Security, F-22 Raptor Cost online at:
www.globalsecurityorg/military/systems/aircraft/f-22-cost.htm
3. The cost of the Iraq War was initially to be paid out of the oil revenue produced by the new and improved Iraqi government whose people
would welcome America with flowers... Obviously the plan like the peace, has fallen apart. The National Priorities Project estimates the cost of
the war at $421 Billion. I think that figure is too low given the war related costs of the war wounded and the money going to special services
defense contractors on the ground. The true cost will take many years to figure out and will not include the tears of the families of the
wounded and dead. See, http://costofwar.com/index-public-education.html See also, the "Christian Science Monitor, January 10, 2006, "Iraq
War Costs could top $2 trillion" online at:www.csmonitor.com/2006/0110/dailyUpdate.html
* A great site on the human cost of the war that is constantly overlooked by the traditional media can be
found at:www.antiwar.com/
toward outer space and below the oceans. We have conquered the planet. We do not know what is under the sea since most of the ocean
floor has not been explored. And we clearly do not know everything about the inner solar system as a few robots landing on distant planets
will not give us a clear understanding of these foreign worlds. We need to have the courage of our ancestors and explore the unknown. It will
be difficult, but that is the challenge and what makes it so exciting. If it was easy, we would already have men and women on Mars and would
have knowledge about the ocean floor and the vast resources that are under the seas.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
1. For an excellent overview of the missile defense system, see Federation of American Scientists,
"National Missile Defense" online at:www.fas.org/spp/starwars/program/nmd/
2. There are several very good sites on the costs of the F22 fighter program. While this fighter will keep America's air superiority for several
decades in this new century, it will not stop 19 year old men from entering a shopping mall with a stick of dynamite or a machine gun. The
threat to America is not from other nations, but from ideological zealots, environmental degradation and global poverty. Russia and China will
not be attacking any time soon since they are important trading partners for Corporate America. An excellent overview of the extraordinary
costs of this amazing fighter plane can be found at: Global Security, F-22 Raptor Cost online at:
www.globalsecurityorg/military/systems/aircraft/f-22-cost.htm
3. The cost of the Iraq War was initially to be paid out of the oil revenue produced by the new and improved Iraqi government whose people
would welcome America with flowers... Obviously the plan like the peace, has fallen apart. The National Priorities Project estimates the cost of
the war at $421 Billion. I think that figure is too low given the war related costs of the war wounded and the money going to special services
defense contractors on the ground. The true cost will take many years to figure out and will not include the tears of the families of the
wounded and dead. See, http://costofwar.com/index-public-education.html See also, the "Christian Science Monitor, January 10, 2006, "Iraq
War Costs could top $2 trillion" online at:www.csmonitor.com/2006/0110/dailyUpdate.html
* A great site on the human cost of the war that is constantly overlooked by the traditional media can be
found at:www.antiwar.com/
 | |  | |  |
The benefit to consumers was better cars and
trucks at competitive prices. In the 1970’s and 80’s
millions of electronics jobs were lost again to
foreign competition. The consumers benefited with
superior electronics products. In the 1990’s, the
new markets created by the dawn of the
information age resulted in millions of jobs in
computers, software, programming, telecom and
related services. Today, the cry of workers is again
that jobs are being lost to foreign competition as
entire industries “outsource” to other countries with
their cheaper labor markets.
Both Republicans and Democrats are promising
Americans they will create more jobs by lowering
taxes. The reality is taxes could be lowered to zero
and defense spending could be increased to even
more obscene levels and real job growth would
continue to elude new workers and those still
unemployed.
trucks at competitive prices. In the 1970’s and 80’s
millions of electronics jobs were lost again to
foreign competition. The consumers benefited with
superior electronics products. In the 1990’s, the
new markets created by the dawn of the
information age resulted in millions of jobs in
computers, software, programming, telecom and
related services. Today, the cry of workers is again
that jobs are being lost to foreign competition as
entire industries “outsource” to other countries with
their cheaper labor markets.
Both Republicans and Democrats are promising
Americans they will create more jobs by lowering
taxes. The reality is taxes could be lowered to zero
and defense spending could be increased to even
more obscene levels and real job growth would
continue to elude new workers and those still
unemployed.
