with which I wholly concur…
“It is reported today that the government:
- intends to spend £1 500 000 000 (£1.5bn) on new armaments factories in the UK
- intends to buy 7 000 further long-range missiles
- believes that this will put us on a footing for a conflict with Russia
- believes that this will boost the economy
John Healey is reported in the Times as suggesting that the public mind-set about defence needs to change.
I am writing to state my absolute opposition to this plan, and to say why it is wholly misguided, and why it is so repugnant.
The government can see, as can we all, that weapons around the world do not solve problems. Weapons in Ukraine, Russia and Israel are not enhancing lives of ordinary people in any way at all. They are creating rubble and corpses, They are creating a generation of grief and resentment. The only people gaining from weapons manufacture are the arms traders and makers, who must be rubbing their corporate hands in glee. People need peace, and a future where lessons from the past are heeded and weapons are not embraced even as a last resort.
The government can also see that there is so much in UK society that needs fixing. After decades of misrule by the Tories, so much of our national life has been hollowed out by economic attrition and right-wing thinking. It is impossible to believe that spending this eye-watering amount on arms is the best way to spend our taxes. If the government’s view is that there are no higher priorities that armaments, then we have a complete failure of imagination, and a criminal disregard for the welfare of ordinary people. Can the government really think of nothing better to spend tax revenues on ?
All war – without exception – is a failure of politics. To create and identify a future adversary and to arm against the imagined foe is maladaptive behaviour. Perhaps if Russia is perceived a threat, we could invest money in dealing with that threat now by diplomatic means, and obviate the use of lethal weapons.
To boost the economy without regard to the morality of the means of increase is unacceptable. If the UK put its money into producing vast quantities of popular illegal substances we might find that very profitable. How is it any more moral to thrive on exporting death and destruction, and the means to cause both ? Why is Labour’s wildly spinning moral compass encouraging the government into bidding to become an exporter of death, and a pariah state ?
On John Healey’s comment, it is not the public’s mind-set which is in need of re-focus. Rather he embodies tired thinking, and recourse to action which he knows does not work, and is a very expensive failure. The public do not want more weapons. There are many things they do need, but the government ignores them, and whines about tough decisions, but which it means unacceptable actions which are useless and unacceptable to the public.
It is Labour that needs a change of mind-set. John Healey – and the government – might do better to listen to the public, and to govern in their interest. Having a government which truly cares about the people it governs would be a pleasant change. Unfortunately Labour shows no sign of being that government, and the people know it. And are rejecting it.
This approach of arming for peace is as daft as fucking for virginity. What is morally wrong cannot be politically right.
Dave Hepworth”
