I think the key, in my view, is that their are really a welthy few that really benefit from these militaristic policies. Ironically, it's not their children who join the military and implement those policies. The dirty work is done by others.
Oil is a great example. Oil is definitely one of the greatest vehicles of wealth creation mankind has ever known. There has been a clique of wealthy elites going back to the late 19th century who have toppled governments, waged wars, supported repressive regimes, all in the name of controlling and profiting from this precious resource. Oil not only creates massive wealth, it also fuels the all important military machine.
Who benefits from oil? The wealthy elites. Who pays the price both in dollars and blood/lives to continue this bloody trade? Everyone else, especially those who join the military, not the wealthy elite's children.
What would a rational energy policy be? To build an enormous military machine to protect and even seize the remaining oil? No, a rational policy, one that would benefit everyone in society, would be to conserve energy, find alternatives, tax oil so people conserve (like much of Europe does). The alternatives may have been rather weak in previous decades, but certainly in the early 21st century alternatives to oil from hydrogen/fuel cells to biofuels could be realisitcally implemented. Just conservation alone could probably wean us off Middle Eastern oil. There is no need to fight wars for oil. It's going to run out soon anyway. Oil is seeing it's last hurrah. If current trends continue, alternatives will be cost competive with oil within 20 years. In 30 years, Americans will look back and wonder why we ever bothered with Iraq? Our military/energy policies are very shortsighted. |
