America's Tin Leaders on Parade--George Strauss

Tweet I am now retired. Instead of blogging more, I'm blogging less.

Found this (another, I know) rundown of the militaristic cast of our society. We need to keep reminding ourselves. Portion below; whole article by PoliSci prof George Strauss, here: http://www.counterpunch.org/strauss08082007.html

"Of the 100 largest U.S. defense contractors, the top six – Lockheed, Boeing, Northrup, General Dynamics, Raytheon, Halliburton – collectively receive some $80 billion annually from the federal government. A leading contractor in Iraq, Blackwater USA, holds contracts worth about $800 million a year.

"Between 1990 and 2006, American defense contractors contributed a total of $111 million to Democrats and Republicans, with 60 percent going to the GOP. In 1990, $7 million was contributed to the two parties. In 2006, the defense industry gave $16 million total – from individuals, political action committees, soft money – with $6 million going to Democrats and $10 million to Republicans.

"A bleak nightmare now engulfs our mighty republic. The land is awash in guns, with thousands killed by bullets every year. Thousands more Americans and others die in Iraq from bullets and shrapnel as images of fallen heroes and grieving families blink on nightly television. Political phantoms chasing money and votes are silent about the prospect of gun control or moving billions from the Pentagon to help fund health care and Social Security. With megaphones blaring, America’s tin leaders are on parade, marching in unison in the “war on terror” while the Founding Fathers shriek in the night.