War, Who's It Good For?

War, Who’s It Good For?
Nicholas Johnson
The Gazette, June 27, 2023, p. A6
How have we become the global participant in forever wars? Spending half our discretionary federal appropriations on war. More than the next 10 nations combined. Running up debt of $32 trillion, with interest payments over $600 billion annually.

We are as far from what the founders provided as could be imagined. They wanted to avoid wars.

In the U.S. House of Representatives' own website there’s a discussion of its constitutional war powers (Article I, section 8, clauses 11-16). “The Congress shall have power … to declare war . . .."

In the website’s discussion of the founders’ intentions it says, “The decision to send the nation to war is perhaps Congress’s gravest responsibility . . .. For the Members, to declare war against a foreign power is to send their constituents, their neighbors, their family, and even themselves into harm’s way. . . . The founders felt that war should be difficult to enter, and they expected congressional debate to restrain the war-making process.”

They presumed wars would require a draft and pay-as-you-go financing.

How’s that been working for us? Pretty well through World War II -- the last time Congress complied with the constitutional requirement it “declare war.” Following WWII the war budget was around $14 billion (in today’s dollars).

Then things began to change.

The Viet Nam War protests made clear that if the U.S. wanted to actually use the military taxpayers were paying for, the one percent who actually fought the wars would have to be either volunteers or the mercenaries of defense contractors. [Photo credit: Vietnam War protesters, the Pentagon, Oct. 21, 1967, Frank Wolfe, Lyndon B. Johnson Library, via Wikimedia.]

So, the draft was abolished, January 27, 1973. House members could quietly go along with fighting a war without either supporting, or opposing, the declaration of one. No mothers cried; their sons stayed home. The financial cost of wars could be camouflaged from taxpayers by putting it on a credit card and increasing the debt limit.

The military’s best and brightest explained the need for a rationale for war, the benefits and costs of fighting one, and the need for exit strategies. But few House members seemed to be listening.

In 1969, the song writers gave us “War, What’s It Good For? Absolutely Nothing.” It doesn’t get a lot of play these days. Besides, what we should be singing is, “War, Who’s It Good For?”

There’s an answer to that one.

Decades ago, my research revealed that the payback on corporate campaign contributions ran at least 1000-to-one. Give a million, get a billion (e.g., federal contracts, tax cuts, tariffs).

Today that’s increased a bit. With a trillion-dollar budget for war, it’s not only too big to fail, it’s too big to audit. But some numbers are available.

One contractor’s political contributions for one year were $3 million. A 1000-to-one return would have been $3 billion. But this contractor got $40 billion in contracts. Not a 1000-to-one return; a 13,000-to-one return.

Meanwhile, Congress talks about cutting the budget -- while continuing to add more for war than even requested.

Nicholas Johnson, as U.S. Maritime Administrator, had some responsibility for sealift to Viet Nam. mailbox@nicholasjohnson.org

SOURCES Congress spending half on war. “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023; SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS PROVISIONS BY SUBCOMMITTEE,” https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/FY23%20Summary%20of%20Appropriations%20Provisions.pdf (“The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 totals $1.7 trillion in discretionary resources across the fiscal year 2023 appropriations bills. In total, the regular 12 appropriations bills include $800 billion in non-defense funding, a $68 billion—9.3 percent—over last year. This is the highest level for non-defense funding ever and a larger increase in both dollar and percentage than fiscal year 2022. The bills also provide $858 billion in defense funding.)

“Current US Defense Spending” [2021-2024], US Government Spending, https://www.usgovernmentspending.com/defense_spending_history (military, veterans, foreign aid, total defense: 2024 $909.4 billion $322.1 billion $73.7 billion $1.3052 trillion)

More than next 10 nations combined. “The United States now spends more on defense than the next 10 countries combined,” Peter G. Peterson Foundation, April 24, 2023, https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2023/04/the-united-states-spends-more-on-defense-than-the-next-10-countries-combined (“[T]he United States now spends more on defense than the next 10 countries combined (up from outspending the next 9 countries combined in 2021.”)

$32 trillion debt. For an opportunity to watch the numbers climb in real time, sliced and diced into more categories than you could have imagined, check out the “U.S. Debt Clock,” https://www.usdebtclock.org/

Federal debt increase. https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/debt-to-the-penny Record Date Debt Held by the Public Intragovernmental Holdings 6/13/2023 $25,103,112,337,735.63 $6,872,182,398,142.32 Total Public Debt Outstanding $31,975,294,735,877.95

Foreign ownership of US debt. Kimberly Amadeo, “Major Foreign Holders of U.S. Public Debt; Who Owns the U.S. National Debt?” The Balance, Jan. 19, 2023, https://www.thebalancemoney.com/who-owns-the-u-s-national-debt-3306124 ($3.242 trillion with top 5 countries; Japan, China, UK, Belgium, Luxembourg; China = $870 billion) This is amounts and percentages of “public debt” (e.g., not including Social Security and other “intragovernmental holdings”). Current public debt is $25.103 trillion. https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/datasets/debt-to-the-penny/debt-to-the-penny

Over $600 billion in interest. “What is the National Debt Costing Us?” Peter G. Peterson Foundation, May 12, 2023, https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2023/05/what-is-the-national-debt-costing-us (“The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that interest payments will total $663 billion in fiscal year 2023 and rise rapidly throughout the next decade — climbing from $745 billion in 2024 to $1.4 trillion in 2033. In total, net interest payments will total nearly $10.6 trillion over the next decade.”)

Founders wanted to avoid wars/House Website. “Power to Declare War, Origins & Development: From the Constitution to the Modern House,” United States House of Representatives, https://history.house.gov/Institution/Origins-Development/War-Powers/ ("If America was going to survive as a republic, they reasoned, declarations of war required careful debate in open forums among the public’s representatives. “there was a growing sense that such monumental responsibility belonged with the legislative branch. “Like George Mason of Virginia, the founders felt that war should be difficult to enter, and they expected congressional debate to restrain the war-making process. “to declare war against a foreign power is to send their constituents, their neighbors, their family, and even themselves into harm’s way.”)

WWII last Congressional declaration of war. “Power to Declare War, Origins & Development: From the Constitution to the Modern House,” United States House of Representatives, https://history.house.gov/Institution/Origins-Development/War-Powers/ (“Congress has not declared war since 1942”)

Post-WWII war budget $40 billion. “Military Expenditure by Country, In Local Currency, 1949-2022,” United States, SIPRI [Stockholm International Peace Research Institute], 2022, https://www.sipri.org (“All figures are expressed in terms of the current currency.” In US dollars: 1949 14 088 155 591 1950 14 926 997 114 1960 47 346 552 670 1970 83 407 993 005 1980 143 688 354 873 1990 325 129 313 986 2000 320 086 324 211 2010 738 005 000 000 2020 778 397 200 000 2022 876 943 200 000)

“Current US Defense Spending” [2021-2024], US Government Spending, https://www.usgovernmentspending.com/defense_spending_history (military, veterans, foreign aid)

“World military spending reaches all-time high of $2.24 trillion; Surge in spending reflects Russia-Ukraine war and ‘increasingly insecure world’, according to leading think tank,” AlJazeera, April 24, 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/24/world-military-spending-reaches-all-time-high-of-2-24-trillion (“World military spending reached an all-time high of $2.24 trillion in 2022, … Global spending rose for the eighth consecutive year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said on Monday in its annual report on global military expenditure.”)

And see, “Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm_International_Peace_Research_Institute

Percent who fight wars. Elliott Ackerman, “Why Bringing Back the Draft Could Stop America’s Forever Wars,” TIME, Oct. 10, 2019, https://time.com/5696950/bring-back-the-draft/ (“The burden of nearly two decades of war–nearly 7,000 dead and more than 50,000 wounded–has been largely sustained by 1% of our population.”)

Draft abolished 1973. Amy Zipkin, “The military draft ended 50 years ago, dividing a generation,” Washington Post, Jan. 27, 2023, https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2023/01/27/draft-end-conscription-1973/ (“On Jan. 27, 1973, with the Paris Peace Accords signed and U.S. involvement in Vietnam over, Defense Secretary Melvin R. Laird announced the end of the military draft, after 25 uninterrupted years of conscription.”)

“War, What’s It Good For?” “War,” Lyrics, https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/25707922/Edwin+Starr/War (“’War’ is a counterculture era soul song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Motown label in 1969. Whitfield first produced the song – an obvious anti-Vietnam War statement – with The Temptations as the original vocalists. After Motown began receiving repeated requests to release "War" as a single, Whitfield re-recorded the song with Edwin Starr as the vocalist, with the label deciding to withhold the Temptations' version from single release so as not to alienate their more conservative fans.”)
NOTE: If any person or corporation would like these publicly-available lyrics removed please email: mailbox@nicholasjohnson.org and they will be deleted.

Edwin Starr - War (Original Video - 1969), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01-2pNCZiNk

War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, uhh
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it again, y'all
War, huh (good God)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me, oh
War, I despise
'Cause it means destruction of innocent lives
War means tears to thousands of mother's eyes
When their sons go off to fight
And lose their lives
I said, war, huh (good God, y'all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, just say it again
War (whoa), huh (oh Lord)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me
It ain't nothing but a heart-breaker
(War) Friend only to The Undertaker
Oh, war it's an enemy to all mankind
The thought of war blows my mind
War has caused unrest
Within the younger generation
Induction then destruction
Who wants to die? Oh
War, huh (good God y'all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing
Say it, say it, say it
War (uh-huh), huh (yeah, huh)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me
It ain't nothing but a heart-breaker
(War) It's got one friend that's The Undertaker
Oh, war, has shattered many a young man's dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much too short and precious
To spend fighting wars each day
War can't give life
It can only take it away, oh
War, huh (good God y'all)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, say it again
War (whoa), huh (oh Lord)
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothing, listen to me
It ain't nothing but a heart breaker
(War) Friend only to The Undertaker, woo
Peace, love and understanding, tell me
Is there no place for them today?
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way, oh
War, huh (God y'all)
What is it good for? You tell me (nothing)
Say it, say it, say it, say it
War (good God), huh (now, huh)
What is it good for?
Stand up and shout it (nothing)

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Barrett Strong / Norman Whitfield
War lyrics © Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

1000-to-one Return on Contributions. Nicholas Johnson, “Campaigns: You Pay $4 or $4000,” Des Moines [Iowa] Sunday Register, July 21, 1996, p. C2, https://www.nicholasjohnson.org/politics/general/campaign.html

Can’t audit Defense Department budget. Bill Chappell, “The Pentagon Has Never Passed An Audit. Some Senators Want To Change That,” npr, May 19, 2021, https://www.npr.org/2021/05/19/997961646/the-pentagon-has-never-passed-an-audit-some-senators-want-to-change-that (“Despite having trillions of dollars in assets and receiving hundreds of billions in federal dollars annually, the department has never detailed its assets and liabilities in a given year. For the past three financial years, the Defense Department's audit has resulted in a ‘Disclaimer of Opinion,’ meaning the auditor didn't get enough accounting records to form an assessment. . . . Now lawmakers are introducing a bipartisan bill that would impose a penalty for any part of the department, including the military, that fails to undergo a "clean" audit. "’The Pentagon and the military industrial complex have been plagued by a massive amount of waste, fraud and financial mismanagement for decades. That is absolutely unacceptable,’ said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who co-sponsored the bill with Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, along with Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Mike Lee, R-Utah.”)

Contractor with 13,000-to-one return on contributions:

Payments to Top 6 Defense Contractors. “The Top 10 Federal Defense Contractors,” Bloomberg Government, July 14, 2022, https://about.bgov.com/top-defense-contractors/

Top 6 (of 10 largest defense contractors in FY 2021) Lockheed Martin Corp. - Obligations: $40.2B Boeing Co. - Obligations: $22.1B Raytheon Technologies Corp. - Obligations: $20.7B General Dynamics Corp. - Obligations: $17.8B Pfizer Inc. - Obligations: $13.3B Northrop Grumman Corp. - Obligations: $12.9B

“Biggest Defense Companies in the Stock Market,” Motley Fool, https://www.fool.com/investing/stock-market/market-sectors/industrials/defense-stocks/biggest-defense-companies/

Contractors Political Contributions. “Defense,” Open Secrets, https://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php Defense Defense Aerospace Defense Electronics Defense/Foreign Policy A

Defense aerospace (2021-2022) Lockheed Martin $3,110,453 Colsa Corp $2,421,419 Northrop Grumman $2,190,417 Raytheon Technologies $2,154,719 Collazo Enterprises $2,112,300 General Dynamics $2,084,195 [Total $14,073,503

Top Contractor Return on Contributions. 13,000 to One ($40 billion/$3 million) (40,200/3.110,453 = 12,924.1625)

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Democracy and Political Norms

Democracy Depends on Political Norms
Nicholas Johnson
The Gazette, June 13, 2023, p. A5
Politicians who play by our democracy’s essential political norms put the oil in its joints. Those who violate them risk democracy’s creaking and breakdown.

Political norms are no more complicated than kindergarten norms. “Treat others as you want to be treated.” “Sharing is caring.” Like the norms of the NFL or movie studios.

Players want to win the game. But once over they accept the score and each other to maintain a league that can produce an $18 billion season. Bill Maher has explained how good movies can be made by actors who don’t like each other, but work together because, “We’ve got a movie to make.”

Politicians must do no less. They have a nation to govern. They must accept election results and maintain civility and respect for those with whom they disagree.

In 2008 a supporter of Senator John McCain attacked Obama as “an Arab.” McCain bristled, "No ma'am, he's a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with.”

Abraham Lincoln beat Stephen Douglas for the presidency. Douglas’ response? "Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I'm with you, Mr. President, and God bless you."

In 2000 Senator Al Gore became the first presidential candidate since 1888 to win the plurality of the vote but lose the electoral vote. The election was ultimately decided by four Justices of the Supreme Court appointed by President Reagan and one appointee of President H.W. Bush. Al Gore’s response?

“While I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome …. For the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.” [Photo credit: C-SPAN; this is a still photo that does not link to the video. To watch and listen to the video of Al Gore's concession speech, Dec. 13, 2000, click here: https://www.c-span.org/video/?161263-1/al-gore-concession-speech -- a 7-minute video that should be seen by every American before the 2024 election.]

Equally important is the norm of forbearance. Just because the Constitution grants the president or Congress a power doesn’t mean its use complies with norms.

President Washington knew he was creating norms. His self-restraints included terms (two), executive orders (eight) and pardons (16). He only vetoed two bills, signing many with which he disagreed “out of respect” for the Congress.

Article II, section 2 of the Constitution says the president has power to appoint Supreme Court justices – “with the advice and consent of the Senate.”

In 1986 Democrats joined in the approval of President Reagan’s nomination of conservative Antonin Scalia for a 98-0 vote. Between 1866 and 2016 the Senate never refused to hold hearings on a president’s Supreme Court nomination – including the 74 occasions when it was the last year of the president’s term. Why? That was the norm.

Until President Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland March 16, 2016. (Robert Bork was given a hearing; and supported by three Democrats and opposed by six Republicans.)

We have the power to fix our democracy – at the ballot box. Ask yourself four questions: “Does this candidate follow the norms? Practice tolerance and forbearance? Strengthen or weaken democracy? Would a kindergarten teacher say he or she ‘Plays well with others?’”

Nicholas Johnson is the author of “Columns of Democracy.” mailbox@nicholasjohnson.org

SOURCES Kindergarten norms. Frances McIntosh, “Want A Higher-Performing Team? Follow Kindergarten Rules,” Forbes, Feb. 5, 2018, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/02/05/want-a-higher-performing-team-follow-kindergarten-rules/

Chaffron, “Kindergarten Keynotes : 8 Gold Star Rules For the Grownup World,” Mack’s Musings, Aug. 7, 2018, https://mackthemaverick.com/2018/08/07/kindergarten-keynotes-8-gold-star-rules-for-the-grownup-world/

For a list: Google search “Kindergarten rules for adults”

NFL. Chris Kolmar, “20+ National Football League Demographic and Financial Statistics [2023]: NFL Revenue + History,” Zippia.com, March 27, 2023, https://www.zippia.com/advice/nfl-demographics-financials/ (“The NFL’s total 2022 revenue was $18 billion, an increase from $12.2 billion in 2020.”)

Personal observation: at least some opposing players greeting and even giving hugs to each other.

Movies. Bill Maher, “New Rule: Parliament Fights,” Real Time with Bill Maher, YouTube, Feb. 17, 2023, 1.5 million views as of June 5, 2023, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O1ezj7qcwQ (“I know we hate each other, but we’ve got a movie to make.”)

McCain. John McCain’s defense of Obama. “McCain Counters Obama ‘Arab” Question,” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrnRU3ocIH4 (“"No ma'am, he's a decent family man, citizen, that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues, and that's what this campaign is all about," McCain said to applause. https://abc7chicago.com/mccain-defends-obama-arab-2008-campaign-john/4058948/

“John McCain’s 2008 Concession speech,” https://www.npr.org/2008/11/05/96631784/transcript-of-john-mccains-concession-speech (numerous passages throughout)

Douglas. “Text of Gore’s Concession Speech,” New York Times, Dec. 13, 2000, https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/13/politics/text-of-goreacutes-concession-speech.html (“Almost a century and a half ago, Senator Stephen Douglas told Abraham Lincoln, who had just defeated him for the presidency, "Partisan feeling must yield to patriotism. I'm with you, Mr. President, and God bless you.")

Gore. “2000 United States Presidential Election,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_United_States_presidential_election (“Though Gore came in second in the electoral vote, he received 543,895 more popular votes than Bush,[53] making him the first person since Grover Cleveland in 1888 to win the popular vote but lose in the Electoral College.[54]”)

“Supreme Court Nominations (1789-Present),” U.S. Senate, https://www.senate.gov/legislative/nominations/SupremeCourtNominations1789present.htm (Voted against Gore: Reagan appointees Rehnquist, Kennedy, O’Connor, Scalia; HW Bush appointee Thomas Voted for Gore: Ford appointee Stevens; HW Bush appointee Souter; Clinton appointees Breyer and Ginsberg)

Mark S. Brodin, “Bush v. Gore: The Worst (or at least second-to-the-worst) Supreme Court Decision Ever,” 12 Nev. L.J. 563 (2012), https://scholars.law.unlv.edu/nlj/vol12/iss3/8/

“Al Gore,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Gore (“On December 13, 2000, Gore conceded the election.”)

“Text of Gore’s Concession Speech,” New York Times, Dec. 13, 2000, https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/13/politics/text-of-goreacutes-concession-speech.html (“while I strongly disagree with the court's decision, I accept it. I accept the finality of this outcome, which will be ratified next Monday in the Electoral College. And tonight, for the sake of our unity as a people and the strength of our democracy, I offer my concession.”)

Washington. Restraint in number of terms. How Democracies Die, pp. 105-06

Restraint in issuing vetoes and executive orders. How Democracies Die, p. 129

“The Executive Clemency of George Washington: One of Just a Handful of Pardons Ever Signed by President George Washington,” RAAB Collection, https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/george-washington-pardon (“The influence of Washington's clemency policy is striking. He signed very few clemency warrants as President, perhaps as few as 16, and of those known 16, since some were issued for multiple applicants, they covered 28 individuals.”)

Justices Appointments.

Constitution. The Constitution of the United States, Art. II, Sec. 2 (“He [the President] shall have Power, . . . and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint . . . Judges of the supreme Court . . ..”)

Holding hearings. Supreme Court appointments norm. (“In theory, the Senate could block presidents from appointing any of their preferred … justices …. This has not happened because of an established Senate norm of deferring to presidents …. Between 1880 and 1980 more than 90 percent of Supreme Court nominees were approved …. In the 150-year span between 1866 and 2016 the Senate never once prevented the president from filling a Supreme Court seat.”) How Democracies Die, pp. 135-36.

Scalia appointment. “The ultra conservative Antonin Scalia, a Reagan appointee, was approved in 1986 by a vote of 98 to 0, despite the fact that the Democrats had more than enough votes (47) to filibuster.” How Democracies Die, pp. 136.

Successors’ appointments. “On seventy-four occasions during this period [1866-2016], presidents attempted to fill Court vacancies prior to the election of their successor. And on all seventy-four occasions – though not always on the first try – they were allowed to do so.” How Democracies Die, pp. 136.

Obama/Garland. “On March 16, 2016, President Barack Obama nominated appellate judge Merrick Garland to fill Scalia’s seat. ... a qualified candidate, and … an ideological moderate. But for the first time in American history, the U.S. Senate refused to even consider an elected president’s nominee for the Supreme Court. ... Since 1866, every time a president had moved to fill a Supreme Court vacancy prior to the election of his successor, he had been allowed to do so. … It was an extraordinary instance of norm breaking.” How Democracies Die, pp. 145-46.

“Merrick Garland Supreme Court nomination,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrick_Garland_Supreme_Court_nomination (“On March 16, 2016, President Obama nominated Merrick Garland, the Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, to fill the vacant seat on the Court.”)

Bork hearing. “Robert Bork Supreme Court nomination,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bork_Supreme_Court_nomination

General. Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, How Democracies Die, New York: Crown, 2018 Index, “norms, democratic,” Index p. 308 pp. 5-8, 21, 23, 61-62, 65-78, 87-92 (rewriting rules), 100-144, 146-149, 153-155, 157-162 (mutual toleration), 167-175, 176-203 204, 210-211, 212-213, 217, 220, 222, 230-231

Google search: “origins of "norms," their relationship to regulations, laws, and constitutional provisions and how essential norms are to the preservation of a democracy”

Ashraf Ahmed, “A Theory of Constitutional Norms,” Michigan Law Review, May 2022, https://michiganlawreview.org/journal/a-theory-of-constitutional-norms/

Josh Chafetz & David E. Pozen, “How Constitutional Norms Break Down,” U.C.L.A. Law Review, 65 UCLA L. Rev. 1430 (2018), https://www.uclalawreview.org/how-constitutional-norms-break-down/

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