How to Pay for World War Three

It’s time we talked about the problem of meeting the expense of World War Three. When the bombs begin dropping and the casualty lists are in, we shall be in no mood to give this phase of the war any considered thought. Right now, when reflection is unencumbered by strong emotions, is the time to put our minds to it. The matter of national security is not involved in an open discussion of the inevitable problem, for our enemy cannot in any way be influenced in his strategy by an airing of ways and means; how we meet the costs of war cannot possibly affect his military or even fiscal plans. There is no valid reason for the blackout of the subject at present so complete as to suggest that our leaders are giving it no. consideration at all.

Perhaps they don’t think it is worth thinking about, and they might be right. Strictly speaking, the financing of a war is no more a problem than breathing; if there is air and your respiratory organs are in good order, you breathe; if there is no air or if your lungs are dogged up you cease breathing. Likewise, if a people at war are able to produce the means of prosecuting it, their government takes their output and keeps on fighting. That’s all there is to it. You simply cannot flight if there is no production. In fact, the strategy of war is to bring the enemy to his knees by destroying his economy; you blockade his ports of entry, you destroy his factories and means of communication, you make it impossible for them to produce matériel (including food), so that his will to war is liquidated by lack of means.

FC

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Frank Chodorov

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It’s time we talked about the problem of meeting the expense of World War Three. When the bombs begin dropping and the casualty lists are in, we shall be in no mood to give this phase of the war any considered thought. Right now, when reflection is unencumbered by strong emotions, is the time to put our minds to it. The matter of national security is not involved in an open discussion of the inevitable problem, for our enemy cannot in any way be influenced in his strategy by an airing of ways and means; how we meet the costs of war cannot possibly affect his military or even fiscal plans. There is no valid reason for the blackout of the subject at present so complete as to suggest that our leaders are giving it no. consideration at all.

Perhaps they don’t think it is worth thinking about, and they might be right. Strictly speaking, the financing of a war is no more a problem than breathing; if there is air and your respiratory organs are in good order, you breathe; if there is no air or if your lungs are dogged up you cease breathing. Likewise, if a people at war are able to produce the means of prosecuting it, their government takes their output and keeps on fighting. That’s all there is to it. You simply cannot flight if there is no production. In fact, the strategy of war is to bring the enemy to his knees by destroying his economy; you blockade his ports of entry, you destroy his factories and means of communication, you make it impossible for them to produce matériel (including food), so that his will to war is liquidated by lack of means.