[Mb-civic] DDE's Farewell Warning

[TSawyer456 at aol.com]

Michael:
 
Tell me this isn't chilling...
 
Tom
_www.ThomasBSawyer.com_ (http://www.thomasbsawyer.com/) 
 
 
…Until the  latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments 
industry.  American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, 
make swords as  well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of 
national defense;  we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments indus
try of vast  proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and 
women are directly  engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on 
military security  more than the net income of all United States  corporations. 
This conjunction  of an immense military establishment and a large arms 
industry is new in the  American experience. The total influence - economic, 
political, even spiritual -  is felt in every city, every state house, every office 
of the Federal  government. We recognize the imperative need for this 
development. Yet we must  not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, 
resources and  livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our  
society. 
In the councils  of government, we must guard against the acquisition of 
unwarranted influence,  whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial 
complex. The potential  for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and 
will  persist. 
We must never  let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or 
democratic  processes…  
President Dwight David  Eisenhower 
Farewell Address 
January 17,  1961

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