John Buttrick writes from his Vermont Folk Rocker in his Concord home, Minds Crossing. He can be reached at johndbuttrick@gmail.com

I’ve noted that the Republican and Democratic conventions covered almost no information about the United States’ involvement with the production and sales of military equipment, a major component of the nation’s economy.

Searching through the party platforms, a discussion of the military was covered only briefly at the very end of each document, almost as an afterthought. And yet, the military plays a significant role in creating jobs, delineating international relationships, and defining the character of the people. There are around 750 U.S. military bases in at least 80 countries throughout the world.

If one has the patience to read to the end of each party platform, a sketch of the place of the military in the nation is revealed. ”Republicans will ensure our Military is the most modern, lethal and powerful Force in the World.”

The Democratic party platform pronounces, “The United States has the finest fighting force in the history of the world.” It also includes the observation, “President Biden has often said that the United States is strongest when we lead not only with the example of our power but with the power of our example. Military force should be a tool of last resort, not the first.”

Both party platforms make strong statements about continuing production of military equipment. “Republicans will ensure our Military is the most modern, lethal and powerful Force in the World. We will invest in cutting-edge research and advanced technologies.” The Democrats “will continue to invest in upgrading to next-generation weapon systems, cutting-edge training opportunities, and deterrence capabilities such as our submarine force and the nuclear triad.”

This policy of weapons research and production has led to an economy that depends upon the military industrial complex. Included in the Republican party platform is the affirmation, “Our Industrial Base is critical to ensuring good jobs for our people…” The Democratic platform commits to “investments in America’s military industrial base, putting billions of dollars to work in America…” The result is a country that depends upon the military industry to provide a significant number of jobs for its citizens. To keep the industry strong, the country looks for customers for its products.

The United States has become the major supplier of weapons for the nations of the world. “The USA’s arms exports grew by 17 per cent between 2014–18 and 2019–23 and its share of total global arms exports rose from 34 per cent to 42 per cent. The USA delivered major arms to 107 states in 2019–23, which was more than the next two biggest exporters combined.”

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“The total authorized value for privately contracted Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) authorizations for FY2023 was $157.5 billion, which includes the value of hardware, services, and technical data authorized from exports, temporary imports, reexports, retransfers, and brokering.”

As the November elections approach, it is important to ask the candidates and ourselves, do we want our country to be known as the major arms dealer in the world? The continuation of wars depends upon military supplies from the United States. Do we want our country to be complicit in the continuation of those wars? Do we want U.S. jobs and financial well-being to depend upon the death and destruction of war?

Rather than profiting from being an exporter of weapons, urge our political candidates to support jobs needed for exporting food, medicine, and other necessities to the millions of distressed people in the world. Seeking to spread democracy through providing the means for war only makes enemies and is incompatible with a democracy.

Demonstrating democracy with neighborliness secures friends. Encourage that concept to be included in party platforms – at the top of the page.