Alan Grayson Says It Clear: “Not Every Problem in the World Has a Military Solution

U.S. Sen Alan Grayson, discussing the military industrial complex, points out how many (most?) liberals are afraid to take on the military industrial complex because they will be attacked as being weak on defense. Congressman Grayson calls this “blood libel.”
Here’s a portion of the timely interview;
“As a Democratic member of Congress, how prevalent is this fear, and how does it play into decision-making when it comes to the defense budget?” Rep. Alan Grayson: “It’s crucial. We have Democrats who have been running scared of the idea that their weak on defense since at least McGovern [running for President in 1972]. And you remember how hard President Kennedy had to overcome that stigma in the 1960 election. So it’s been a real problem for us, ever since the Communists lived under our beds each night, and came out each night around three o’clock in the morning. This is a chronic problem, and we have to get past it by realizing that not every problem in the world has a military solution. Sometimes the military makes things worse. For instance, let’s take Iraq. That’s a good example of that. Things are far worse today than they were under Saddam Hussein’s regime. It’s not even a close question. Ordinary people are living lives of utter depredation and fear every day. We didn’t solve that problem. And we just have to get over this idea that every time we see something in the world that we don’t like, we bomb it.” TV: “Some defend military spending, by justifying the jobs it produces. So how do separate job cuts from military spending?” Rep. Alan Grayson: “Well, there is a simple answer to that, and I’m speaking as a former economist. I was an economist for almost four years, and the only member of Congress who can actually say that. When you put people to work making bombs, what you end up with is bombs. When you put people to work making bridges, what you end up with is bridges. When you put people to work making schools, you end up with educated children. Military spending to create employment is an utter dead end. You might as well have half the population digging ditches, and the other half filling them in. The important thing is to unleash people’s work, their time, their creativity, what they have to offer, so that they can serve others.”

via Alan Grayson's Emails | “Not Every Problem in the World Has a Military….


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