We have a Department of War in the United States - Why don't we have a Department of PEACE?

Question

We are dumping Billions (literally)of dollars every month into the "WAR" or Military interests
Why don't we have a Department of Peace?
This would be a Dept.of Peace with the main goal to find peaceful solutions to world conflicts and domestic conflicts.
If a Dept. of Peace did exist would you contirbute to funding it?
Would you care if your tax dollars funded it?

Yes I know there is a "United Nations" - but they are heavily influenced by the Military.

Answer 1

The Department of Defense , is all about making Peace when war breaks out. That is exactly what the Dept., does , finds Peaceful solutions. Our tax dollars do support Peace. America uses Billions of Dollars to bring Peace to regions who are at war. It is not only about war, but mainly to maintain Peace in the war torn countries. The UN, is mainly there to find Peaceful negotiations. The Department of Defense=PEACE.

Answer 2

Ah, the American education system at it's finest.

We have a Department of Defense (it hasn't been the "War Department" since, oh, World War II). It deals primarily with the defense of the nation (here and abroad).

What you're looking for as a "Department of Peace" is actually called "The State Department". They're the people that go in and try to talk things out. If they fail, then the process is turned over to the Defense Department.

And no, I wouldn't contribute to something that sounded as silly and useless as a "Department of Peace".

Answer 3

the United Nations isnt much without US military. I think the US should withdraw from the UN and evict them from New York. Tell em to set up shop in France or anywhere else. I fought in the military. I will never fight for the UN again. My country -yes but not the UN. The US military is the first line of defense in achieving peace. You may disagree but peace only comes thru superior firepower. It's all well and good to speak out for peace and to protest and wave posters and banners and blame our gov't and so forth but when the S***
hits the fan at the end of the day, it all boils down to that man or woman in uniform carrying a weapon. to have peace you must first be able to back it up. Now I dont agree with our troops being over there- I did at first when I thought we could make a difference. But now I think they should come home and let Iraq, Iran,Turkey ,Jordan and whoever in the hell else that depises our being in the middle east get along on their own. The USA has enough domestic problems. I am tired of the USA being the policeman to the world especially since we're sooooooo appreciated.

Answer 4

Because there is no such thing as peace. If there were a way to perfect the avoidance of conflict I am sure they would have in the hundreds of thousands of years humans existed.

You have to think that peace goes well beyond just war. Just because there is no war declared does not mean there is peace. Iraq could become the most peaceful country in the world tomorrow but that won't mean the statistics that say there is more violence in the US between civilians than there is in Iraq.

So obviously with this statement we must figure out a way to defend ourselves against violence because there really never is an end to it.

Answer 5

You are way off base. In the US we have the "Department of Defense." That's what everyone in the Department does: defend you.
We don't need a Department of Peace. Everyone in the US, and most people in the world, wants peace. We all work towards peace when we can.
I would not fund a Dept of Peace. I would not agree to use my tax dollars for such a wacky idea. We already spend way too much on the federal government.

Answer 6

Haven't had a dept of war since WW2. The Department of Defense is also relied on heavily for peace. Our military is constanly on peace keeping missions around the world for the UN

Answer 7

WE DON'T HAVE A DEPARTMENT OF WAR. WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT??

We USED to have one, though, starting in 1919.

August 10, 1949 it was renamed Department of Defense.

Our version of a Department of Peace as you describe it is the Department of State but this department is a foreign affairs thingy. Trying to find peaceful solutions to foreign disputes is supposed to be taken care of by them. The domestic disputes are taken care of by the various state and federal courts.

But adding a department of peace would be redundant and nothing more than another committee to drown bills in or another layer of bureaucracy. We don't need to waste more tax money on that. The people already in place already have those responsibilities.

Answer 8

Sit down, and try to take this in.
The Department of War, is the Department of PEACE.
Without the USA military, we would (not) live in peace.
We would be overthrown. By evil world leaders.
Can you understand this so far.?

Read your History.
America did not start, when you were born.
You must be very young.
The United Nations, is only good for handing out food around the world.
They are under no influence, of any military.

Answer 9

I do believe we actually only had a Department of Defense, not war anymore. And as for funding a department of peace...no, because I feel that what most consider peace is just people turning a blind eye to causes that need to be championed, even if it means a fight.

Answer 10

I love how popular this question is.

What people havent mentioned in answering your question is that, although we have a Department of Defense, we have an offensive military. Not necessarily a defensive. The Swiss have a defensive foreign policy. Originally America had one too. This past 20th century has been chock-full of foreign policy that moves away from a noninterventionist policy.
This is not good for our country. It affects our stability within our borders. The country is very divided over this 'war'. It creates discontent with other nations of the world. Leaves a bad reputation. Ultimately it leaves our country vulnerable.

http://www.mises.org/story/2514
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul356.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul28.html