Was Eisenhower correct in that war takes food and warmth from the poor?

Question

"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron."

Dwight D. Eisenhower in a speech from 1953

Answer 1

Time has change. Our economy is not on a real warfooting. Therefore, this war is not really being fought.

If we look at North Korea, your statement is 100% accurate. Their economy is on a warfooting. They do not want to feed their own people because they do not want to change their political doctrine.

Answer 2

Yes, of course war is a terrible waste of resources. Dwight D. Eisenhower saw this first-hand, and he knew about the aftermath even after the war was over.
While war brings prosperity to some because of jobs created to supply the war effort, it impoverishes the economy of the world overall. Sometimes the victors prosper, and even the defeated as their economies are rebuilt (e.g. Germany and Japan), but someone in the world winds up paying for the terrible waste. I do not think that President Eisenhower was talking about money taken from welfare programs. I think he was talking about much broader economic effects.

Answer 3

I disagree with dear Dwight. The idea that it is the government's duty to take care of the poor makes people poor.
There is plenty of prosperity to go around but social programs undermine the source of that prosperity, the market.
War is often necessary. I can only think of one American war in my lifetime that was not only unnecessary but counterproductive, that was our short war against the Serbs.
The Anti-war effort goes on like we live in a perfect world and it is dangerous to the continued existence of our civilization.
I often wonder if this is a human phenomenon that when a civilization achieves a certain point, other civilizations that are less developed work together to bring it down. With that, the well developed civilization creates such a cushy lifestyle that it breeds citizens who are not inclined or even capable of defending their civilization from the barbarians. I'm seeing more and more of this.
I think it would make a great thesis. The phenomenon deserves to be researched.

Answer 4

- Velveeta Mac n Cheese (with Kraft Parmesan cheese mixed it it's a 'gourmet' delight!) - Fried Spam on white bread with ketchup - Italian Beef Ravioli from Chef Boyardee - don't even heat this up, eat it directly out of the can! - Hormel bologna with Kraft American cheese on white bread with French's mustard and an ice cold glass of milk - Ragu Traditional pasta sauce with tri-colored rotini noodles with Kraft Parmesan cheese mixed in - Toasted white bread smothered in butter! - Ramen noodles mixed with ginger potsticker dipping sauce (oh so yummy) OR Ramen noodles mixed with Kraft Parmesean cheese - Kraft Spirals with loads of extra butter and milk (to where its almost soupy but not quite) - Wing Stop: If you really want to splurge - call Wing Stop and order whatever the $20 order is and get a mix of different kinds of wings. Then head over to blockbuster and grab a couple of great movies (or go to BB first so the wings are hot). Then come home, get all comfy, pop a beer, turn on the movie, and enjoy being in HEAVEN! - The Worlds Greatest Sandwich* - toast 2 pieces of sourdough bread, fry 2 pieces of bacon in microwave, butter bread and put cheese on, then broil for a couple minutes in oven. combine all ingredients into sandwich and add tomato, salt, and mayonnaise. Final step: fry 1 egg sunny side up and add it to the sandwich then cut sandwich in half - causing the egg to ooze all into all the other ingredients. Eat it right away and wash it down with ice cold Guinness Extra Stout....It is absolutely to DIE for.

Answer 5

Yes

Answer 6

Yes. Imagine if we spent that money on improving our country. Hell, we could eliminate taxes for everyone making less than $200, 000 a year.

Answer 7

Doesn't sound sensible to me.
First look at the reasons for war. The side of right is usually liberating those who would suffer genocide or abuses of basic human rights.
On the simple economic aspects; war is a job stimulus that puts masses, in and out of the military, to work and food on their tables.

Answer 8

It is very true. Eisenhower was the greatest Republican.

Answer 9

Yes, that was the condition in 1953. In 2007 we've seen the poor just get fatter.

Answer 10

And from everyone else!