I heard Rush yesterday speaking about how the US would be forced to lay off 150k defense related civilian jobs all because the Dems were hanging the military out to dry by not approving the entire Bush finding request.
I want you all to think about this line of attack from the Repubs because it is a HUGE deal and it will haunt the elections of 08 and beyond, I GAURANTEE. What we all need to know is just WHO THESE 150,000 PAWNS ARE...
More below...
For five years, I worked for one of the largest American military contractors here in the New Orleans area on a gigantic over budget $multi-billion project. Every day, I worked with folks who form the pool from which the 150,000 will be drawn. Let me tell you about their jobs and who they are. For the most part they are decent folks, more or less conservative in their politics, who truly believe Sadaam was intent on attacking America and that he had to be taken out. None the less there are dissenters among their midst, though in much smaller numbers than in the general population. There is also a very high density of rabid right wingers who would be perfectly OK with nuking Iraq because "they can't control their people." In the middle ground stand (or should I say "sit" because SITTING is what this diary is about) a huge count of people who have been on the gravy train for a long, long time... And, Man, it's been a good ride and they're quite happy with the way things have been going.
I'm talking about career military men and women who retired at about 40 with nice pensions only to turn around and come right back on the project working for contractors making good money, say between $60k and $120k. These folks would be making much less with their skills in the commercial world, say, $40k - $70k. Don't forget their military pensions and any other pensions they get from their contracting firms when they have their 5 years in.
I'm talking about civilian engineers, logistics people (logistics translates to office work), purchasing agents, secretaries, drafters, pipe fitters, welders, electricians, etc. all of whom are being paid significantly better than commercial market wages for their services.
This is a pool of people who have been living well for 10 - 20 years, ammassing good savings accounts, feeling extremely secure in their jobs despite the occasional budget crunch. People who work for companies like Jared, 3C, L3, BAE Systems, Honeywell, Northrop-Grumman, General Dynamica, Lockheed, Raytheon, Bechtel, not to mention all the companies large and small whose primary business comes from military contracts.
Know that these people have been sucking on the tit of lucrative military procurement contracts for a long time and they know where their bread comes from. They obviously identify military activity with personal financial well being. It's only natural.
Jack (not his real name), who worked across the cube wall from me for two years, used to say several times a day, "I'm just a 6 figure clerk." as he kept his bosses' affairs organized. He moved on to Virginia (D.C.) to work on another project for his contractor and he got a hefty raise to do it. Note that his skills are normal office skills. Sarah was a marginally competent and unmotivated secretary who made about $45k pushing paper. She'd be earning about $8.50/hour anywhere else in Louisiana with her skills.
These people have become cozy with each other, building up long relationships among each other for decades. As workers in this "industry" move from job to job, project to project, they run into each other and rehash old times and old friendships ("Yeah, Joe from Bath Iron Works is now across town at Coronado Island on the Blah-Blah project"). They may whine about incompetent management (usually with good justification) but on the whole, they know that they have it good.
My company made it clear to their employees in special meetings that supporting pro war PACs was a good idea for their collective financial state. The prospect of budget cuts is the one thing that can galvanize this monolithic bloc of voters into action.
So my point is this: If and when the war machine slows down, we will be faced by a highly motivated, well organized, righteous, spoiled, and entitled feeling group of right wingers anxious to tear down any threat to the life to which they have become accustomed. They listen to Rush all day. They can become virulent in their politics, highly aggressive in their tactics, and they will feel the wrath of God is on their side. They will believe that the "Deceitful Dems" are intent on destroying our country.
If a Democratic candidate is able to successfully weather the election storm, then let’s suppose that, when in the White House, he/she accounts for this block of voters who face a serious downturn in their financial fortunes and he has a plan. Say he (I’m thinking Obama) pulls off a miracle plan where people coming off the military gravy train can be done right by transitioning into jobs, say, in the alternative energy sector, or some such thing. The problem here is that even when treated right, these folks will now be paid fair "commercial market" value for their skills which will be an UNNACEPTABLE AFFRONT to their entitled selves. Right or wrong, this is how such fir treatment will be received. Know that Bush, the war machine, and the long entrenched history of largesse to those who bought the right wing program leave behind a monster that will have to be dealt with, and dealt with in a human way. Not an easy task. Thanks for reading.