Is War really good for the economy?

[Bandit]

That seems to be the only thing I can figure is the true mindset of Republicans. They have to know that massive tax cuts really don't help the economy but they sure help get them re-elected. I think they truely believe that war is good for the economy and I think they are honestly baffled that it isn't working. They look back to WWII and see how well the economy did and even during Vietnam the economy did pretty well. They are totally stumped because they truely believe that War is good for business. I think Peace is much better for business but it is just a gut feeling. Anyone have any conclusive evidence one way or another?

[Homer12]

1. War is good for teh Military-Industrial Corporations.

We die for their profit.

[Wetzelbill]

4. yup, limited to certain sectors

It lines the pockets of Dick Cheney and Richard Perle and their pals pretty well. As for people like us, well, we either get all our services cut, tuition raised, property tax hikes etc, or are sent to die for the cause.

[displacedtexan]

2. war economy is great for a short period of time.

then you have to pay for the war. ouch!

[lcordero]

3. Nope

I think that it destroys the tourist industry. The world is a lot different than it was 50-60 years ago.

[Az]

5. At one time maybe

But todays economy is so streamlined and specialized that the disruption is very dangerous.

[Brian Sweat]

6. I don't need your civil war

It feeds the rich while it buries the poor.
The power hungry do their shopping in a
Human grocery store.

[einniv]

7. We never scaled back production from WWII.

Ever since we had to mobilize for WWI, and then again for WWII, it was "decided" that we would never de-mobilize our forces again.
So anyway, my point being that because of that situation your saying really isn't as true as it once was. We are already producing most of the stuff we need so there is no huge boost from war.

[rooboy]

8. An economist down here in Australia summed it up well...

he was estimating Australia's cost of involvement in Iraq. We only sent 1,000 troops and aren't very involved, but he reckons it will cost us $10 Billion.

His quote was "you don't create wealth by blowing stuff up."

[pacifictiger]

12. War is a great business enterprise

because you create ready made customers -> plant fear -> make equipment -> destroy things then rebuild. Lots of new job creation by attrition. In the 2nd WW Hitler's war was a good way to put germans to work during the depression, and siezing wealth from jews was one way to finance his venture of european control. Many people of influence in this country were adamant about not getting involved, but if you look more closely, those same people were making money out of Hitlers war ventures. After Pearl Harbor, they were able to continue their money making ventures with involvement in the military buildup of this country.
To stop this madness and actually create peace, we need to move to industries that can be money making ventures that the public will envision as necessary. Fear has proved to be an awful good motivator for releasing the purse strings of common wealth to be controlled by a select few. If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to think of everything else in terms of a hammer.

[fleetus]

9. I think the U.S. economy is closely tied to the military.

Sadly.

It adds for a lot of conflicted interests,in my opinion. Like if you make profits from military spending, then it is to your interest to improve the market for military spending. So, you actually make more money when the world is less peaceful and more scary.

Health care is similar. When it is for profit, you have an entire sector that makes more money when people are sicker. So it is in their interest to create a society where people need more health care.

Most humans want peace and health, but for those folks working for capitalist interests in the military and health care industries, they have a conflict of interest. And when the bottom line rolls around, we know what seat ethics takes 9 times out of 10.

The messed up thing now is that these interests don't have to lobby the government as much. Especially with this administration, they ARE the government.

[Bandit]

11. Most countries such as Canada that have Universal Health Care

Are running Surpluses. Go figure. :shrug:

[lastknowngood]

10. It use to be good for American jobs but now most of it is

outsourced overseas so it's good for the multinationals but not America.