The “American way” of life has greatly and, some might
say, catastrophically changed since the terrorist attacks on September 11,
2001. Since that fateful September day the entire infrastructure has been
reshaped to prevent further attacks on American soil. Lawmakers, on all levels of government, have
pushed through, with little difficulty, legislative policies, created agencies,
allocated hundreds of billions of dollars of tax payer money all in the hopes
of preserving and ensuring the safety of the American people at home and
abroad. All of this legislation, albeit often resisted by many in the form of
formal protest, has created a great many of jobs and has helped to stimulate
the military, both private and government ran, industrial complex. The various
agencies and companies, which have been either created or expanded, that are
tasked with and granted contracts for these protective services have helped to
stimulate a fledgling and unstable economy. Whether the sustainability of this
created/expanded sector is possible and its cost, both financial and social,
are acceptable is under much speculation and discussion. This blog aims to
examine both the growth and the effects of this vast and ever expanding
military complex. We aim to explain the
financial commitments, social implications, and cultural impact these policies
and agencies have had and will continue to have on American people and their
way of life.
The
union of the national military and the private sector of production has created
a nearly iron clad unification that has placed a strangle hold on the economy.
This places the American public in quite a predicament because it redirects
national interests in a manner that makes war seem essential by allowing
military spending to be innate in the GDP. A perpetual state of panic allows
for the media to “inform” and promote ideology that seeps into the national
subconscious and creates a Need for national defense. The relationship has been
forged in blood and currency, both from the same source, the American citizens.
After the budget in U.S. defense spending was increased, deciding to focus on
strict measures rather than focusing on creating jobs, rather than focusing on
having a manageable debt and focusing on stimulating the economy. The smaller
organizations were told to follow the new strict regulation and pay for the
fees, leading to unmanageable costs and ultimately filing for bankruptcy or subsequently
laying off employees in order to stay afloat. Due to the increased threat of
terrorism, and other non-state orientated threats, the need for security has
increased in these hostile areas. Since 9/11, the use of Private Military
Companies has grown considerably in order to provide security and other
services to aid in the military effort. Despite the social implications of
using these companies, they have been an invaluable resource, especially in
areas where the actual military might not be the best fit. Because of this, it
has been one of the fastest growing industries in the world, with companies
making billions of dollars. This blog will focus on PMC growth post 9/11, and
the subsequent job growth as a result.
