There is an ugly culture of war in America. It has been with America throughout its history (Jimmy Carter: US ‘Most Warlike Nation in History of the World’) and it is becoming uglier and uglier over time!
1. America’s recent wars and the ugly culture of war
The image below offers a highlight.
2. War and the U.S. Constitution
Here is the War Powers Clause from the United States Constitution:
[The Congress shall have Power…] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque
and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;
Note: Throughout American history, only five wars have been declared by Congress: the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.[1]
3. War and America
Let us go all the way back to George Washington’s Farewell Address, in which he gave four warnings (What were four warnings that George Washington gave in his farewell speech?), of which two were specifically related to war:
- He warned America that it should not become entangled in other nations’ affairs.
- He supported a national budget, as a way for America to avoid unnecessary war and war borrowing.
Unfortunately, America hardly listened to him (e.g., Monroe Doctrine) and became much worse after WWII, when America became an economic monopoly. Two examples:
- The image below is a partial list of America’s wars after WWII.
- America had never started a massive pre-emptive war against any country until March 2003, when it launched the Iraq War.
4. Discussion
America has been madly in love with war throughout its history, especially after WWII, to the point that the MIC is now the #1 existential threat not only to America but also to mankind (Will America lie all the way into WW III?)!
Why is that?
Let us identify the root cause of America’s culture of war …
Unlike Canada or Australia, which gained independence from Britain without violence, America gained it violently via a war: the American Revolution. The image below highlights a root cause of America’s ugly culture of war.
5. More discussion
How to stop America’s love for war, thus ending the ugly culture of war?
Below is a general solution.
Is American patriotism so bad, really?
Yes, it was bad 250 years ago, and it is bad today!
Specifically, two big steps as a real solution:
- Reform our failing political system, as I suggest in this book.
- Draft: A war is worthwhile only if you are willing to participate yourself or send your children there!
America, reform our failing political system, as I have suggested (History 2.0 – China’s Comeback vs. America’s Decline), or face a bloody revolution at home (A quarter of Americans open to taking up arms against government, poll says)!
6. Closing
America’s culture of war is so ugly that it must be dismantled!
Enjoy the video below.
