Should businesses profit from war?
In one facet of my life, I am involved with economist, this question came up recently...should businesses profit from war?
I don't post very often, but I read ALOT...you ladies and gentlemen always have some pretty interesting thoughts. Let me know how you feel about the topic.
I don't post very often, but I read ALOT...you ladies and gentlemen always have some pretty interesting thoughts. Let me know how you feel about the topic.
0
-
quote: As far as the 3000+ soldiers killed in Iraq, what would be an acceptable number of civilians killed in the U.S.
How many anti-gunners, anti-constitution persons live in this country agian? Then I could give you a figure. [;)]0 -
Private corporations should be allowed to profit from war - there's no way around it. Modern war needs material and we can't have the government making all of it since we know how well the government handles its own business.
The real problem is not that corporations are making money, it's that corporations are allowed to sway our policymakers with promises of fat paychecks and bonuses.
War has become a special interest event when it should be a matter of the gravest national security.
And Saw2b, your argument is a knee-jerk neo-con fear monger's argument. You imply, without coming out and saying so, that if we were not in Iraq, the terrorists would come over here.
Tell me: how many terrorists on 9/11 were Iraqi? How many Americans did Iraqi terrorists kill before we invaded Iraq?0 -
quote:Originally posted by SAW2B
DeadMonkey
You clearly have an understanding of what I am asking however, you have replied with a liberal emotional response vs. a rational capitalist response.
As far as the 3000+ soldiers killed in Iraq, what would be an acceptable number of civilians killed in the U.S.
The war in Iraq did not stop those men from plotting an attack on Fort Dix, now did it?
The war in Iraq has not secured our borders, has it?
My response, far from being "liberal emotional" is stark reality. Take a look at the profit reports for the various warmaking corporations and then see how many of them are associated with neocon think tanks or contributed heavily to Republican candidates.
What we should be asking ourselves is how often should they be allowed to do it? Should we let them get away with it when our national security is not on the line? I say no.
War profiteering should only be endured when it is a do-or-die situation. To do otherwise is to encourage a never ending series of wars that have nothing to do with our survival and everything to do with end-of-the-year bonuses for CEOs.0 -
Again, the monkey has it HALF right.
Beneath all the "Bush's war" raving, and behind the "Halliburton won no bids" rhetoric lies the truth; There were no other companies ALREADY THERE supporting our troops at any cost, profit or no.
The Bush twins are not eligible to serve under the draft because there is no draft, and if there were, I doubt seriously that they would be taken, since they are GIRLS.
Border security has nothing to do with making a profit in iraq, and regardless of how many of our fine young soldiers are killed by terrorists; it's still a lower number of deaths than those killed every year by drunk drivers, or killed by accident in peacetime.
There's some "stark reality" for you.0 -
gunnut,
Bush's twins would be able to serve alongside all the other women that are "not in harm's way" in Iraq.
And I would like to add that I did not bring up Halliburton - you did.
To me this goes way beyond Halliburton and applies to everyone and every corporation that heard "war" and thought "profit."
War by and for private enterprise will be the destruction of democracy because the socioeconomic elite "haves" will ALWAYS be outnumbered by the working class "have nots." It will be rule by the few for the few and that is not democracy by any definition that I've read or heard of.0 -
Day one of econ 101. Our economy is based on the Military/Industrial Complex. 0 -
funny I am an econ major and we did not get all that "neocon and military indusrtrial complex conspiracy crap"
Oh and the Bush twins not fighting fighting thing was cute maybe the 1st time, whatever effectiveness it had has completely worn off. That has no relevance in policy or ethics of war waging0 -
I can see what you are thinking when you asked this. Being that we are not a communist state businesses have to profit from war. But do companies over profit or cheat to gain more then they deserve, heck yeah. Have companies taken advantaged of soldiers, yes. 0 -
[/quote]The war in Iraq did not stop those men from plotting an attack on Fort Dix, now did it?
[/quote]
You forget those people were home grown not foreign0 -
Go back and check some of the records from the Revolutionary War time period and the Civil War. This is not new, and won't be when it occurs again in the future, and it will. 0 -
sure, but is profit a justification for war? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tsavo303
funny I am an econ major and we did not get all that "neocon and military indusrtrial complex conspiracy crap"
Well you better re-read your econ books. I am an economist for a large bank. The very first line of the very first econ book I have from the University of Michigan (you can't accuse them of being a neocon university) states that the modern economy is based on the military industrial complex. There is not alot that goes on in our economy that doesn't tie production wit the military. Medical, logistics, manufacturing, hi tech, etc.0 -
quote:Originally posted by PanzerSlayer2
quote:Originally posted by tsavo303
funny I am an econ major and we did not get all that "neocon and military indusrtrial complex conspiracy crap"
Well you better re-read your econ books. I am an economist for a large bank. The very first line of the very first econ book I have from the University of Michigan (you can't accuse them of being a neocon university) states that the modern economy is based on the military industrial complex. There is not alot that goes on in our economy that doesn't tie production wit the military. Medical, logistics, manufacturing, hi tech, etc.
Maybe you ought to try a text from a different university. We have a 14 trillion dollar economy and the military is just a bit less than that, yet everything ties to the military/industrial complex? Not in this lifetime, and not in yours either.
I've got an MS in Economics, spent a lifetime earning a living off of it, and spent lots more time with my second major in Finance making money off of it, and using the third major in U.S. History to try to pick out the patterns and records of behavior that would tell me a tale. I just don't seem to remember the whole damn thing being run by the military, but I'm sure the U of M finds truth there.
BTW, several members of my family are U of M graduates, a couple in engineering, and they didn't find that information either.
Must have been a different portion of the school.0 -
maybe you need another book (and I was saying that that type of conspiracy crap, common promoted by idiots who use the silly term "neocon" are not part of a tradional education in Economics)
Yes, we spend alot on military and there is alot of lobbying, but govt creates policy and declares warquote:Originally posted by PanzerSlayer2
quote:Originally posted by tsavo303
funny I am an econ major and we did not get all that "neocon and military indusrtrial complex conspiracy crap"
Well you better re-read your econ books. I am an economist for a large bank. The very first line of the very first econ book I have from the University of Michigan (you can't accuse them of being a neocon university) states that the modern economy is based on the military industrial complex. There is not alot that goes on in our economy that doesn't tie production wit the military. Medical, logistics, manufacturing, hi tech, etc.0 -
quote:Originally posted by mrseatle
sure, but is profit a justification for war?
Not making commentary on any current conflict just posing a question, because wouldn't it profit all of us if there were just "One Nation, Under God"?0 -
War IS big business...I suppose Olin gives the ammo away... 0 -
quote:Originally posted by ElMuertoMonkey
gunnut,
Bush's twins would be able to serve alongside all the other women that are "not in harm's way" in Iraq.
And I would like to add that I did not bring up Halliburton - you did.
To me this goes way beyond Halliburton and applies to everyone and every corporation that heard "war" and thought "profit."
War by and for private enterprise will be the destruction of democracy because the socioeconomic elite "haves" will ALWAYS be outnumbered by the working class "have nots." It will be rule by the few for the few and that is not democracy by any definition that I've read or heard of.
I think they got in some "law trouble" and would, at least, need a moral waiver in order to enlist......[:D][:D]0 -
Of course... WWII MADE America!
Check the numbers of pre-WWII America and post-WWII America.
Ditto post-Korea & Vietnam.
... simple as that. [8D]0 -
+
D.0 -
Well, in pure economic theory there is no such thing as excessive profits. Through arbitrage, as profits are made, more competition enters the market and profit margins are driven down. Yes, modest profits are allowed. However, when you consider the risk-reward ratio, higher profits can be made when companies entire riskier business ventures. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Captplaid
Well, in pure economic theory there is no such thing as excessive profits. Through arbitrage, as profits are made, more competition enters the market and profit margins are driven down. Yes, modest profits are allowed. However, when you consider the risk-reward ratio, higher profits can be made when companies entire riskier business ventures.
Ahhhhh, a man who understands the concept.0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
52 comments