Budgets
The news of the day is peppered with stentorian Washingtonians blowing air about America's bare wallet. Aside from noting that the stingier and meaner the proposal, the prettier the political face that presents it, I am noticing a lack of discussion about one element of the Federal budget which is never brought up as exorbitant, ludicrous and corrupt. That element is the Military Budget!
Granny can't heat her house? Let her knit herself another blanket. Jose's school can't afford a computer lab? Teach him how to cut lettuce. Alphonse can't work because he has no public transportation? Let him grow wings. The Air Force wants another $10 million dollar jet by the dozen? Let's buy a hundred.
The Republicans in Congress are expected to fight against dropping the tax cuts for the wealthy which helped bring down the Federal economy. They are also expected to fight against increased taxes on foreign corporations in the United States, like those owned by the Chinese perhaps. Yet, they grudgingly voted for the extension of unemployment benefits when unemployment was near 10%. That, they cried, was passing an unbearable burden on to their children and grandchildren.
Of course, it is indeed about their children and grandchildren. It is always about the children and grandchildren of the elite. It has been for thousands of years of human history. They control the government and the wealth. They pretend to be working for the greater good of the people.
As a humanist, I see politics as pathetically unscientific. Political science, describing the current state of statesmanship, is an oxymoron. Truly scientific politics would be based on matching the scientific assessments of human and environmental needs with technological (applied scientific) solutions with little regard for the Almighty Dollar. I firmly believe that political decisions made in this way would cost much less than those made to please elite capitalists.
Granny can't heat her house? Let her knit herself another blanket. Jose's school can't afford a computer lab? Teach him how to cut lettuce. Alphonse can't work because he has no public transportation? Let him grow wings. The Air Force wants another $10 million dollar jet by the dozen? Let's buy a hundred.The Republicans in Congress are expected to fight against dropping the tax cuts for the wealthy which helped bring down the Federal economy. They are also expected to fight against increased taxes on foreign corporations in the United States, like those owned by the Chinese perhaps. Yet, they grudgingly voted for the extension of unemployment benefits when unemployment was near 10%. That, they cried, was passing an unbearable burden on to their children and grandchildren.
Of course, it is indeed about their children and grandchildren. It is always about the children and grandchildren of the elite. It has been for thousands of years of human history. They control the government and the wealth. They pretend to be working for the greater good of the people.
As a humanist, I see politics as pathetically unscientific. Political science, describing the current state of statesmanship, is an oxymoron. Truly scientific politics would be based on matching the scientific assessments of human and environmental needs with technological (applied scientific) solutions with little regard for the Almighty Dollar. I firmly believe that political decisions made in this way would cost much less than those made to please elite capitalists.
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