MarvinMouse's Journal: Defence Budget

I just had to post this quote from a book I read just recently. I think it explains exactly why Canada is right about not spending insane amounts on a defence budget: (This is paraphrased as to avoid copyright problems, hopefully)

"Nations fear their 'enemies', so they spend large amounts of energy and money into weapons they believe will protect them. Yet, the more they focus on these defences, the more they frea being attacked; thus leading to more money and energy being thrown into defence. Even though we are in an age where the weaponery makes war absurd, these nations will disregard models for cooperative planning toward developing third-world countries that show great promise, and instead fight with their militarys for control of developing nations.

These countries ignore peace gestures. They disregard evidence that a budget directed towards education, health, social programs, and small businesses would provide more employment and provide for more people's needs then a budget directed towards war.

All they as a nation know is that they are terrified of their 'enemy' and because of this must continue to expand the defence."

Like the story of the man who poured gold dust and salt on his lawn every day to protect against man-eating tigers. He sacrificed food, family, and destroyed his own garden, making it impossible for plants to grow. He even destroys his own house so he could get the gold dust and salt to pour on his lawn.

But as far as he could tell, he mustn't stop because well... it worked. No tigers showed up at his house.

The one time that a tiger did show up, he easily excused on the fact that he mustn't have been using enough gold dust and salt. So, he doubled his recipe, and in the end destroyed everything he was trying to protect.

Does this sound vaguely familiar? Well, it's an old folk tale from a long time ago, and still applies to this day.

Thank god, I am Canadian, and I hope we remember not to destroy our land pouring gold and salt to protect against the 'tigers', no matter what any of our friends or neighbours tell us.