Beware of the Military Industrial Complex. A warning from Ike. | Eastern North Carolina Now

HAVE YOU EVER READ THE SPEECH THAT EISENHOWER MADE IN 1961?

    Bobby Tony comments on Eisenhower's goodbye speech.

    Everybody seems to have some memory of the term "Military Industrial Complex" as if it were some sinister and evil concept. Most will remember that Dwight Eisenhower warned about the problem of allowing the MIC to gain too much influence. Most will not remember he also warned of a few other things that federal money attracts.

    Here are a few excerpts:

    Throughout America's adventure in free government, our basic purposes have been to keep the peace; to foster progress in human achievement, and to enhance liberty, dignity and integrity among people and among nations. To strive for less would be unworthy of a free and religious people. Any failure traceable to arrogance, or our lack of comprehension or readiness to sacrifice would inflict upon us grievous hurt both at home and abroad.

    A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction

    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.

    The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is present and is gravely to be regarded.

    Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific technological elite.

    Another factor in maintaining balance involves the element of time. As we peer into society's future, we -- you and I, and our government -- must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow.

    I suggest that you forget the cliché reference to the warning and read the complete speech, which is located at this link. It may give you an expanded view of the warning. Maybe we should be more critical of the mindless clichés tossed around by us all.

Ike's Goodbye Speech