Talkin' trash to the garbage around me.

17 January, 2006

Words of wisdom from the wayback machine

On this date in 1961, President Eisenhower delivered his farewell address to the American people with his famous warning:
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

If only the citizenry had been wise enough to listen.