Bruce Catton, the great chronicler of the Civil War, began one of his books with a quote from a chaplain in the Union Army who was struck by the fact that the war was devastating the South while bringing prosperity to the North.
“What a marvel is here!” wrote the chaplain. “Something new under the sun! A nation, from internal resources alone, carrying on for over eighteen months the most gigantic war of modern times, ever increasing in its magnitude, yet all this while growing richer and more prosperous!”
Americans should likewise be astonished. The United States is funding an all-out war with Russia, a conflict that has left a half million Russians and Ukrainians either dead or wounded. And yet Americans are prospering under Bidenomics. It’s an economic miracle! And all this new wealth has been conjured up by President Joe Biden, a demented criminal!
Unfortunately, America's growing wealth hasn't been distributed equitably. I, for example, haven't made a dime off the Ukrainian ruckus in spite of the fact that I'm a registered Democrat.
The defense contractors, however, are making out like bandits. Rob Rooke, writing for a socialist online publication, points out that a third of the Defense budget goes to just five corporations: Boeing, Raytheon, Northrup, General Dynamics, and Lockheed Martin. Undoubtedly, the Ukraine war has sent a lot of business their way.
Europeans are noticing that Americans are profiting from the Ukraine war while Europe suffers. As one senior European official put it:
The fact is, if you look at it soberly, the country that is most profiting from this war is the U.S. because they are selling more gas and at higher prices, and because they are selling more weapons. (As reported in The Economic Times)
Is the defense industry sheepish or embarrassed about the money it's making off the war between Russia and Ukraine? Not at all. The Ukrainian embassy in DC recently hosted a reception celebrating the 31st anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian military.
Who sponsored this gala event? The American defense industry! The logos of these four defense contractors appeared on the friggin’ invitation: Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Pratt & Whitney, and Lockheed Martin (as reported by Jonathan Guyer in Vox).
The defense industry and its lobbyists are significant contributors to our nation's elected politicians. Perhaps this explains why most of them support the Ukraine war--both Democrats and Republicans.
I'm all in favor of people making money. After all, that's what this
nation's all about. Nevertheless, I oppose American involvement in the senseless
Ukraine war. Can't America's business sector make an honest buck that doesn't
involve the slaughter or dismemberment of thousands of Europeans?
Photo credt: Vox |