It is troubling how insular  and fragmented  we are as a Country.I should have blogged that day I said one year ago ” I give them a year” “Who” she asked. “Us” my reply.I told her that  the President would get one year, any candidate, one year.  Next!.There is no patience and certainly no  prospect of change given the  work done by Congress and the military all these years. We are totally mucked up in War and making  things for War.

“In New Hampshire, the discrepancy is even more overwhelming. Of the $1.72 billion of direct federal contracts in New Hampshire, $1.59 billion comes from the Defense Department. In terms of the work performed here, the total is $1.4 billion. (This figure doesn’t even include many subcontracts, which make up the bulk of most small military contractor sales in New Hampshire.)”

“Any way you look at it, the Pentagon doles out five times the amount of money to Granite State contractors than all other the federal agencies put together. ”

“It’s twice as much as the $750 million the state hopes to get in federal stimulus funds–that includes money to the public sector, not just private contracts. ”

See, it really serves little purpose to rail against one political party or another, or pray for a  Tea Party???. This system has, since the end of the second world war, now doomed  our economy. Europe  is standing down, getting rid of expeditionary war capability. That big  beautiful tank & helicopter war against the  Russians is never going to happen. We are losing  customers fast.

My Father always said “Every Town needs a broom factory”. He really meant it , a broom factory.

We have to  start a War between  China and India  to keep things going in the Defense Industry. That’s the next front. Keep an eye on that . We are done with Pakistan,they have no money.

I watched C-Span the other day a  press conference of defense types.  War Department was a better name.

The 2010 Quadrennial Defense  Review is  out.

It has them buzzing for sure about an “Era of declining demand” Is that the word  Peace  they are trying to form in their mouths?

The  EU won’t and in some cases cannot buy our stuff. Export laws would be great to change according to these guys.

Dump ITAR they plead. I had to look up alot  of acronyms  watching C-Span,that’s how they talk.

The  network of  companies that has grown to support the manufacture and sale of weapons to arm other Countries is in real danger.Did you know that  President Bush was big on outsourcing? Seems logical right ? Make lot’s of opportunities for people, cronies.

The New Administration brought tens ( yes tens)  of thousands of those jobs back into the Government, procurement jobs. The debate is termed”in-sourcing” if you are interested. I guess this has caused a huge dislocation( according to these guys) These stories about  weapons  and even the C-Span stuff takes some commitment to pursue. The  stories are placed  well off the front page or only in journals.

I mean they see what you are watching on TV, they aren’t really worried about  putting it out there.

I met an arms dealer once, at a wedding. I got to ask alot of questions. The hot product that week, jet canopies. He was a Belgian.

We  should have kept a closer eye on this mess. The Boston Globe had a story this Sunday on DARPA funds, and their importance to the region. The product they featured in the article could be bested by a mule. See, even a liberal paper will  cheer defense/war  spending. Creepy isn’t it , just a little? This animal robot, drones  piloted from Vegas. Did you know  the RAF has pilots based there?. It would be great to free ourselves of this nonsense.

It’s as loud as a chain saw while moving, max distance to date  15 miles.

I have been waiting for that other shoe, really looking and this might be it. Remember , no domestic spending  except for  defense , national security. I am pointing out to you  that we are not pursuing Peace. We are continuing to manage Wars. Manufacturing , developing, servicing weapons( shipyard) this is what we have been doing, everywhere.

So Peace is really out of reach without  a real discussion about our economy and it’s underpinnings.

Mike