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Why are we militarizing American society?

Larry Kummer, Editor

Summary:  Previous posts in this series showed how America has militarized. Today we ask “why”? The answer is superficially obvious, but the deeper reasons are mysterious. This is the conclusion to a series about the militarization of America.    {2nd of 2 posts today.}

“Purgamenta hujus mundi sunt tria: pcatis, bellum, et frateria.”
-— This world is purified in three ways: by plague, by war, by monastic seclusion (proverb).

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Contents

  1. Why are we militarizing?
  2. Cui Bono?
  3. Is America militarizing?
  4. Other posts in this series.
  5. For More Information.

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(1) Why are we militarizing American society?

“War is one of the great agencies by which human progress is effected.”

— Opening of “The Benefits of War” by Stephen Luce (Rear Admiral, US Navy), North American Review, 1 December 1891. He founded the Naval War College and was its first president.

The previous posts in this series described some aspects of the militarization of American society, from our geopolitics to our entertainment. Now for the big question: why? Few people agree with Admiral Luce’s enthusiasm for war, mostly burned out of western culture by the horrors of WWI and WWII.

We know why people of the Military Industrial Complex support the militarization of society; as Ike warned us in 1961. But why have we responded so enthusiastically to this militarization? Previous generations of Americans mocked militarized states like Prussia, all those marching soldiers in their fancy uniforms while instead we built a great nation.

So I asked one of the brightest people I know, Steve Randy Waldman (he writes at Interfluidity). He replied that for 120 years foreign wars have been good for America (as a whole, with the sacrifice of only a small fraction of our people). From 1846 – 1966 — from war against Mexico to the turning point in Vietnam — wars destroyed our rivals and stimulated our economy (e.g., the stimulus of debt-fueled WWII spending decisively ended the Great Depression), often bringing us new territory.

(2)  Cui bono? Who gains from war?

“Follow the money.”
— Advice of “Deep Throat” (FBI Assoc Director Mark Felt) to Woodward and Bernstein.

Wars are still a good deal today, in a different way.  As usual in our history, few American casualties (those of foreigners are meaningless) come from its “stakeholders, since children of the inner party and 1% rarely enlist and even more rarely die (see #4 here). The children of the outer party and proles pay the butcher’s bill. Most of our spending on war goes to corporations. As a bonus, war provides useful channels for our more aggressive members. Some die, most return as veterans and take their place as useful citizens (remade by several years of regimentation and indoctrination).

And the fear barrages that accompany war — the constant warnings of foes about to wreck havoc on the suburbs of America — keep us frightened and docile, and justify an ever-growing internal security force.

Best of all, our wars risk little (important since the 1% tend to be cautious types). Military spending either prepares for massive State to State war that’s extremely unlikely (it’s a game no other large nations are even seriously playing, except to defend against possible US attacks) — or fund wars against trivial foes where neither defeat or victory have substantial impacts on us.

“War is the great auditor of institutions.”
— Correlli Barnett in The Sword-Bearers: Supreme Command in the First World War (1964).

Barnett’s words are no longer true in the sense he meant them (at least, so far), since war has become part of the 1%’s social machinery keeping them rich and the nation docile. It’s true in a radically different way. The institution audited is the Republic — American democracy. It’s an intelligence test, as are all scams. We’re failing.

So we’re back to square one. Why have we allowed our nation to become a global policeman, with 1000+ bases spread across the world, posed for war with our rivals while involved in many small wars (none of which involve our national interests)? Give your answer in the comments.

(3) Is America really militarizing?

Perhaps this militarization is an illusion or misreading of America. Watch some rock music videos while you ponder this question! It’s an art form forged in the anti-war days of the boomers’ past.

Here is a flashback to 1969 — “War” by Edwin Star. It’s the way we were.  Have we changed?

(4) Other posts in this series

(6)  For More Information

Recommended readings to help you better understand our times:

  1. “War is the health of the state” by Randolph Bourne (1918).
  2. War Is a Racket by Smedley D. Butler (Major General, USMC, deceased), one of by America’s most decorated soldiers (1935).
  3. The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by Warby Andrew Bacevich’s (2013).
  4. Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power by Rachel Maddow (2013).

If you liked this post, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. See all posts about our military, especially these A key aspect of the New America: permanent militarization of society and Why America has militarized its police and crushes protests.

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