This Memorial Day as we flock to parades to rightly honor our veteran’s sacrifice, perhaps it is also worth pausing to consider the costs of war – not just today but throughout history.
All told it is estimated that at least 500 million people have died in all wars and human conflicts throughout human history. Other estimates put the number at closer to 1.5 billion people. Based on the latter number, that means over 1% of the people who have ever lived have died in war.
Global conflicts cost the world economy almost $20 trillion dollars last year alone. This is estimated to be 12% of the global GDP.
It is estimated that the average American family has spent $200 more just in gas since the beginning of the Iran War.
Of course, these costs – measured in lives and money – don’t even capture the environmental costs, social costs, psychological costs, generational costs or opportunity costs of war. The last refers to what we could have been doing with those lives and money instead.
One interesting statistic from the Brown University’s, Costs of War project shows that for every million dollars spent on the military we create five jobs. By comparison, for every million dollars spent in education we create thirteen.
There are many reasons countries (or perhaps more accurately stated – political leaders) go to war. Some are noble: Independence, security, sovereignty, human rights. Others not so much: To acquire land, territory, power, oil, or other valuable resources. One such resource I learned of recently was bird shit. Yes you read that right, the United States and other countries raced and fought over colonizing small islands in the Pacific and Caribbean oceans for the right to claim the guano (bird shit) that had accumulated there. Ironically, guano was highly sought after because it was a key ingredient for the creation of … wait for it….explosives.
Of course, there are safeguards in place meant to protect us from going into unnecessary wars. Chief among them is the requirement of congressional approval.
Sadly, in the 135 armed conflicts we’ve been engaged in – only eleven have received that explicit approval (approximately 8%). In another 50%, Presidents used other general statutory authorizations to go to war. The remaining 42%? The President unilaterally sent our troops into harm’s way without any approval at all.
Last night, I was helping my daughter study for a history final. She was specifically reviewing chapters on the Cold War. As we reviewed the Korean War, we both learned that over the course of the three-year conflict five million people died – more than half of which were civilians. When the ceasefire was agreed to, the border between North and South Korea was set almost exactly where it was when the conflict began.
Her response to this was telling – a dejected “Wow.” When we finished reviewing the entire unit which covered conflict after conflict, she just stated under her breath. “Bro, we have to stop fighting.”
Indeed we do.
Recommendation of the Week: This Memorial Day, I will be watching this PBS documentary on the sinking of the HMT Rohna – one that claimed the life of my grandfather. I recommend watching/reading anything that reminds you of the personal cost of war.
Consider sharing this email with your elected representatives, who have still not authorized our current conflict.