War millionaires

President Roosvelt famously pledged that there would be "Not a single war millionaire" as a result of the second world war. War was a time of sacrifice for the good of the country and of scoiety, and it would be inappropriate for any one person to profit when so many others were sacrificng so much.

Pizzigati, S (2004) 'Greed and good: understanding and overcoming the inequality that limits our lives', The Apex Press, 2004, p440

By the turn of the new millenium, the Bush administration had no such qualms. Pay at major defence contractors for the goverment went up by unprecedented levels at the same time as the government was awrding them substantial contracts. "CEO pay at Lockheed Martin went up from $5.8 million in 2000 to $25.3 million in 2002. It went up at General Dynamics (tanks and submarines) from $5.7 million in 2001 to $15.2 million in 2002. It went up at Honeywell (aircraft systems) from $12.9 million in 2000 to $45 million in 2002. It went up at Northrop Grumman from $7.3 million in 2000 to $9.2 million in 2002. "...
" the average army private in Iraq earns about $20,000 a year, the average CEO among the 37 largest publicly traded defense contractors made 577 times more money in 2002, $11.3 million. "
Jackson, D (2003) 'Defense CEOs Are Big Winners of Iraq War',Boston Globe, Boston, April 30, 2003

"It is unprecedented in U.S. history to pass tax cuts for the wealthy in a time of war. For over 200 years, estate and inheritance taxation has been linked with mobilizations for war. The first federal tax on wealth was levied in 1797, as our country faced the escalating costs of responding to French attacks on American shipping. " Collins, C (2005) 'Millionaires and War' CommonDreams, Portland, Maine, Friday, July 1, 2005

Its worth noting as well Eisnehower's farewell address which mentions the Military industrial complex."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. " This reminds me a little of What Barry says.