How do we stop our governments from going to war?

Question

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Answer 1

By making it a poor career decision for politicians. Politicians have in recent years, seeing their celebrity status wane as industries and economies strengthen, reinvented themselves as individuals who exist to protect us from threats, real or imagined. Thus war becomes a good career move because it elevates these politicians to the status of protectors. That's the most simple formulation of 'politics of fear'.

We need to refuse to vote for, or otherwise sanction, politicians with this platform. And we need to reject these individuals even more strongly when war does arise, instead of doing the opposite - falling back on familiar faces when we're frightened.

To say that war is an inevitable part of human nature is not only trite, it's misinformed. Many parts of the world have endured long periods of sustained peace in the past. And when that peace has been broken, it has in most cases been as a result of identifiable power-plays by leaders or an elite minority, as opposed to some simmering unavoidable conflict between populations. Peace is absolutely possible, we can shape our society to be whatever we want it to be. Wars are conducted by people, they are not something that exist in nature or outside of our control - we avoid war by rejecting war.

Answer 2

Not that you will ever read this since you have so many answers, but I think the only way you can fix things is to give every group of people that can send a representative to a World meeting. They will vote on what lands each group can occupy with some room to grow. Then, each of these countries form an alliance where each country has the same percentage of votes as their people make up of the World's population. Majority wins always. Lastly, you have to not allow a government to be taken over by any group, this alliance moves in as soon as a group is formed that challenges their governments. Every country will have a democracy, and elections will be looked over and ran by a group made of of half of the country's countrymen and half of the forementioned alliance. All new countries will have a constitution that is voted on by their people.

Answer 3

okay this is more for the idealist but if the countries of the world worked together. More than just Nato and the UN but from the governments of every country had representatives to form a world government. Where every country worked to help another. Where agriculturely rich countries helped feed poor countries. Places like the middle east would rescue orphaned children and infants and eliminate all others. They would be placed with adoptive parents of their culture not living there and not believing in war on all nations who could teach them their religions and culture and rebuild a society that wasn't based on hate of all others. Every nation would need to cease electing career politicians to office and start electing the "average joe". The people with families, just making it by. THe ones who all the policies are really affecting. Ones who are masters at mediation. It is the only way.

Answer 4

War can only be avoided one person at a time. In order for war to not exist, we must start learning how to get along with each other. We must feel peace in our lives and know that that peace does not come from a government or a religion but from ourselves and our seemingly menial daily deeds. Power and Property are what drive the great wars; as well as misguided religions that want to be in politics. We can no longer look to our politicians and governments for peace. Historically, peace is not in their repertoire.

Peace is the inherent right of every human being on this earth. It is now a time when everyone is becoming more aware of the fear and displacement that wars cause. Peace doesn't mean just "No War". What peace means is that we are peaceful and nonconfrontational with all beings we come in contact with. Love has the opposite Hate and Joy has the opposite Sadness. We must search for and learn to individually accept the Light of Peace that has no opposite - the Peace that passes all understanding. When we take our own power and hold this Peace with no opposite, war can no longer exist because we will care about showing everyone on earth how they too can hold this peace in their lives. There will be no power left for governments and religions to cause fear and hatred to control masses of humans as in the past.

The wars we have experienced seem to have no peaceful end. Once we realize this, we can choose peace individually and once a few do this, it will spread. This is not something that can be offered by governments or religions or ideologies. It is something we already have inside that is ready to pop in most of us. I know that I spend a lot of time with these ideas because the wars we have recently experienced are bringing these ideas to us in order to create peace.

Answer 5

How do we stop our governments from going to war?
This question was asked at the Dropping Knowledge event on 9th September by Glen, Capetown, South Africa. To find out more about Dropping Knowledge check out our blog

Answer 6

There is no way. Because that is the basic function of government is to protect it's govern. I think that the question should be how to control where and when and if we should go to war? Not all wars are unjust, but if it is something that the collective is against then it shouldn't happen. Others are making sure you send clear messages to the government that you don't want it. Lots of groups around diluting the issue. You need a concentrated message.

Answer 7

Generally speaking, some wars are not meant to be prevented ie sometimes circumstance dictates violence. Not pleasant, but that's the practical world.

I'd say the best way to prevent war is to limit funds, so that it would take ones government the approval of the people to continue or to even start. While sometimes the people aren't always correct, the people should generally rule their destiny.

America is a good example of that difference. Previous the 16th amendment (which first legalized direct taxation), it was very hard to start conflicts; afterwards it was was easily accessible. That along with central credit, will make any government more open to war...than prudence and perhaps diplomacy.

War's expensive.

I think along with preventing wars, you don't get a government too focused on more programs to solve everything, because they don't have the credit/taxes to do any of these things (within reason). Limit government's power, and you limit war.

Answer 8

You don't no matter how equal and fair the government makes everything. People are still going to want more.Humans have an evil side that can not be changed the closest way you can come to stopping it is to stop the media's obsesion with war and such.

Answer 9

By electing officials who have actually fought in a war. These people will know first hand how terrible war is and will only use it as a last resort. Our currents leaders had their tail between their legs during the Vietnam war so they know nothing about combat and how bad it really is so it was easy for them to send people to war and talk tough. Mike Royko used to call people like this War Wimps. They talk tough about sending the army all over the place but when they had their chance to serve they did not because they were too busy getting their law degrees. Cheney got 5 deferrals. And he talks about cut and run. He never even went. Sherman said war is hell. Do you know who he said that to? To a class of future military officers so they would not have any romantic notions of what war is like

Answer 10

Gort barada nikto!

In the 1950's film "The day the Earth stood still" this very question was the basis of the story.

Michael Rennie played the part of Klaatu, an extra terrestial policemen who explained that in the galaxy all of the planets behaved themselves and didn't go to war, because the price of making any aggressive move on another planet was destruction by the rest of the planets.

If this policy exisited on an international basis, it would be extreme, but it may be that only extreme measures will work, after all war itself is as extreme as you can get!

Answer 11

One among the government duty is protecting its coitizen from threats from other nations and providing security to the people. In general people are surrendered the right to the government towards rational welfare of the nation, hence defence is very essential to the governemnt. Most obviously most of the governments have been elected through popular frachise hence, the people have elected the decion of war or peace. If the neighbouring nation has a threat by increasing nuclear weapons, missiles means, our people wont elect a Gandhiji ideologist person (other than economy), it will elect George Bush. War is very essential until teh nations bound a treaty on anti war and terrorism, anti dumping etc. If every country has loss some power and gain some power coulod generate world peace. It is not possible the governments to stop war untl the fear of war, threat of other nations, other religions and races exists. If the all governments sighned to anti war treaty, some nations come in front we could bound with any treaty because our holy book says, **hadhi is essential and racial clinsing is essential and it is a duty of each and every **slim like that. So it is a duty of all institutions to regulate and relax their commitments towards peace is the only an intelligence solution to solve the war problem. Is it possible to equalize the economy of US and Bangladesh? US ego wont permit to reduce the value of its currency, so competion is a continuos process until we understand and fulfill the requirements for world peace.