"The Fog of War" – Do You Agree With Our Country's Priorities?

Infographic courtesy of War Costs

As an artist/activist it's important to me that no matter how much our respective jobs need to be handled in a politically neutral manner, that we keep close to our hearts, matters of humanity that are most important to us. The issue above is one of my life issues. As an alumni of the first year of Americans not to be drafted (1974) it has always been important that we find ways other than war to handle our disputes.

But we haven't.

40 years later we are more entrenched in international conflict than ever before – and we spend virtually 1/2 the world's military budget while millions of Americans go homeless and nearly 50% of our population is on some form of public aid because of a war economy winning over a peace economy.

So what can you do?

50% of your tax dollar goes to the war machine.

a) Write your senators and congresspeople and demand a reduction in military spending by redirecting funds to job creation and the arts.

b) Spread this info graphic to everyone you know – and let our politicians know that we are not the heathens this kind of war making implies – but a caring, forward-thinking, compassionate society that values human capital over all other forms of capitalism:)

c) Do something other than just reading this and saying that that's just how things are.

Note: The Fog of War is a 2003 documentary film by Errol Morris using archival footage and interviewing Secretary of State Robert S. McNamera on his involvement in Vietnam and the Cold War. Excellent.

The Revolution Will Not be Televised - But It Will be Here

There's a revolution underway - and it's happening on multiple fronts. Zeitgeist calls for it in questioning our society's financial motivations and political machinations. Seth Godin calls it in marketing and communications. "At the same time that our economic engines are faltering, something else is happening. Like all revolutions, it happens in fits and starts, without perfection, but it's clearly happening."

And my email calls for it in the raft of mails I get from friends who are unhappy with the way things in America are going. So there are three things one can do: Lead, follow, or get out of the way. Not since the Vietnam war I have seen America so disenchanted - and that was arguably before my time. I am the first year of Americans not to have been drafted. Now Vietnam enjoys the benefits of a youthful population, plenty of foreign investment and bountiful growth. The generation in America who protested the war in Vietnam was eventually placated by Reagan, Wall Street and a trickle-down re-education camp theory that hasn't quite played out. So how will the Baby Boomers play it this time? Differently we hope - for their children, or grandchildren. The revolution will not be televised, but it will be here.

So, America's F&*%#$-up. But at least I'm not the only one saying so...

It's a financial crisis one day, Bernie Madoff (a scapegoat) the next and now, we could just shut the whole damn thing down today because we've run out of money. And do you know what? That might not be such a bad idea. It might get some people talking sense for a change. With a life bookended off the start by the Korean war, infiltrated at childhood by the Vietnam war, followed by Iraq I, Iraq II and Afghanistan thrown in at middle age for good measure, the baby-boomers of America would do well to ask themselves if all of this has made their life any better, or any safer - but I'm not hearing many affirmatives on that one. "Let's go make some babies", America says. "And we can bring them into a world of perpetual debt, great imperial notions and general global instability", America says, not even paying head to the actual mountain of horseshit sitting right outside the front door. Show the kids "It's A Wonderful Life" annually, buttress that with strong helpings of Justin Beiber, Angry Birds and an iPhone. "Yeah, I think the iPhone will do it Madge!", sparks dad. "Make sure to get the Angry Birds app dear!", she chirps. Our desire to suspend disbelief is unquenchable - and ultimately unmanageable. You know, even those of us in the business of creating illusions need a little reality now and again - just so we understand exactly what illusions really are. And anyone who doesn't think drugs and drink are not helpful here is not seeing the whole picture. Without the benefit of being completely and stupifyingly stoned at at least one point in one's life, could anyone ever really tell what's real and what's not? You won't find it on TV, that's for sure - big media is no tonic for truth telling.

Author John Rachel lines up things pretty simply below - without the benefit of an Ivy League degree or years of public service. With no disrespect to John, it seems a plumber might be able to figure this out as well.

Isn’t it time to end the wars and bring the troops home


Isn’t it time to walk away from our imperial fantasies and reduce our military?


Isn’t it time for the rich and mega-corporations to start paying their fair share?


Isn’t it time to reign in corporate power and their influence over our elected officials?


Isn’t it time for people to come first and government by the people to be reinstated?


"No, we have a better idea", the government says. "Let's give the people blogs and then they can wank all this rubbish around on the Internet and nobody will hear it", the government says. "Yeah, that's the idea." Or maybe there's an even better idea - what do you think?

D a v i d E v e r i t t - C a r l s o n

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