I like Ike!!!

"Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations.

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence – economic, political, even spiritual – is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."

Dwight D. Eisenhower, January 17, 1961.

These words are as important today as ever.

That was an excerpt from Ike's Farewell address. This is the man who commanded the largest invasion army the world has ever known. Then directed that force to liberate a continent. Not only did General Eisenhower command the largest and most modern war machine of the time, he was a man on the hotseat as President during some of the greatest changes in American society. The beginning of the highway system, television, mass consumerism, the suburbs, and on and on... The American experience for the last 50 years has been trying to live up to the picture of "America" painted during the "I like Ike" years of the 50's. Please take the time to read the rest of the speech.

Ike was a pretty cool dude, check this for more info on him.

Stay tuned for more in my presidential speech series.

And now for the basis of any blog written by a wanna-be editor...
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