ARMS VERSUS SOCIAL BENEFIT
The obsession to produce and otherwise obtain weapons has continued to affect the quality of life in many nations. For example, after 1980, conditions for the average citizen in North Korea have become more and more bleak, as excessive expenditures on arms production and the military serve to impede economic growth. Many nations in Africa are among the world's poorest; and yet, African expenditures on arms--during the 1980s, for example--exceeded the sum of international assistance received by these nations for economic development.
Malaysia began to purchase warships in 1992. It has been determined that the price paid for two of these vessels would have enabled the government to provide safe drinking water to five million of its citizens who then lacked it for the next twenty five years.
The United States has at times been similarly guilty of permitting military spending to reduce or curtail social projects. In 1942, Congress appropriated $43 Billion ($593 Billion, in 2011 Dollars) for our armed services, and began to close down extant agencies and projects such as the Civilian Conservation Corps. Again, in 1964, our involvement in an expensive and fruitless war in Vietnam caused the billions of tax dollars required to finance it to compete with, and to eventually usurp, much that could and would have been put towerd the then-necessary social programs that had been collectively dubbed "the Great Society." Social-minded individuals such as Dr. Martin Luther King pointed out at the time that the Two Billion Dollars per month being expended on the war were no less desperately needed to fund these programs at home. By 1968, with over a half million American military in Vietnam, the huge war costs continued to draw funds badly needed for domestic reform projects. Among these were (and continue to be) improvements of our educational system, more and better medical care for people with lower incomes, urban renewal, renovation of our infrastructure, and ecological reforms. And when the struggle there finally ended for the U.S., Vietnam continued to be one of the poorest countries in the world--the major cause being the vast amount of money and resources necessary to support over a million Vietnamese troopsthat remained mobilized in thiat war-torn corner of the world.
* * * * *
It is widely known and acknowledged that, since 1945, scientific research has become so large-scale and complex as to require the facilities of a university and/or the resources provided by government funding in order to be successfully carried on. Much of this research should be directed toward ultimate benefit to mankind. However, by the 1950s, a third of all such programs were devoted to projects which pertained to weapons and warfare. Of course, a major factor behind this was simply because more government grants were awarded for work in such areas, than for endeavors directed toward social improvements.
It has been suggested by some that, ironically, direction of monetary resources away from military uses, and toward improving human conditions--such as health, housing, education, eradication of poverty, preservation of our environment, and human rights--would likely have the effect of reducing the potential for, and causes of, the very conflicts for which we require our armed forces to begin with. Be this fact or fancy, it is nonetheless true that war or the threat thereof, and the massive costs endured by each country in connection therewith, constitute a major obstacle to the solving of mankind's real problems--including hunger, sickness, educational deficiencies, environmental issues, and human rights violations. Manpower, materials, amd capital should be directed to such necessities as roads, hospitals, schools, urban renewal, and other such needs, instead of armies and weapons. In short, military spending obviates and frustrates our hopes for a peaceful and prosperous tomorrow.
It is simple logic to realize that, throughout the ages, each nation, whether rich or poor, has always had access to but a limited amount of money, manpower, and resources. If more of it were expended upon "A," there would be less left to finance "B." Japan's years following World War II constitute a vivid case in point. Since she was forbidden to re-establish military forces, her efforts and resources were instead invested in industrial enterprise. This facilitated a rapid and widespread growth of its civilian economy; and led Japan to assume a major role in business and industry beginning in the 1950s. Subsequently, when America became involved in the troubles and expenses of wars in Korea and Vietnam, Japan enjoyed the lucrative role of supplier to the American forces. It is said, for example, that while Americans "wandered around Saigon in combat gear," Japanese "walked their own streets wearing business suits," increasing the fortunes of the companies they represented. At the same time, America's generous military assistance to South Korea, and aid to Taiwan, created opportunity for those places to utilize their own domestic funds upon capital outlays, and thus consequently prosper.
On a similar note, America's relief from the pressures of the Cold Warenabled us to reduce our defense budget, and to shift more of our resources to marketplace activities, to our commercial advantage. However, our latest military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan have served to reverse a good deal of this advantageous situation once again.
* * * * *
There is a gap between the living standards within the "have" and "have not" areas of our world. This gap has been growing ever wider for years. According to some, the resources needed to reverse certain conditions, and thus reduce this gap, are within our grasp. However, they are regularly diverted to the production and purchase of arms and the support of the world's various armed forces.
Disarmament has always led to reduction of political tensions, and release of funds for more worthwhile civilian purposes. Referred to David Halberstam
* * * * *
PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT--HERE--OR VIE E-MAIL, TO oneworld@tampabay.rr.com.
ALSO, IF YOU ENJOY READING THIS SITE, PLEASE RECOMMEND IT TO ANY AND ALL OF YOUR LIKE-MINDED RELATIVES, FRIENDS, AND ASSOCIATES.
IF YOU ARE A STUDENT, PLEASE RECOMMEND THAT YOUR PROFESSOR/TEACHER AND/OR FELLOW STUDENTS LOOK IN AS WELL.
IF YOU ARE A PROFESSOR/TEACHER, PERHAPS YOUR STUDENTS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN, AND BENEFITTED BY, DISCOVERING THE SENSIBLE AND KINDLY CONTENT HEREOF.
ANY OF THE ABOVE WOULD BE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED--AND MIGHT HELP TO MOVE US ALL IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
No comments:
Post a Comment