Isn't there some value in looking at this question in more depth,
going beyond the glib Lomborgian answer that they just won't, and the
simple reply that we must/should, to
an analysis of why indeed is there military expenditure, and what in
fact can we do to reduce it?
In my own simplified analysis, the nation state has come about because
we misidentify the nation as our 200 odd person tribal grouping, in
which we are related to everyone and where it therefore pays (in terms
of survival of one's genes) for the individual to sacrifice for the
group, and where the groups (and therefore the genes programming their
behaviour) will survive who exterminate other groups when resources
get scarce.
I therefore think the nation state is the "problem", and the solution
is to make it increasingly irrelevant and to refocus our tribal
instincts. Really, at this time, it makes sense that the 200 odd
person tribal grouping we evolved in be expanded to humanity, we are
on a small planet in it together.
Now this analysis may be wrong, but when I saw William ask the
question forming the subject of this post I thought to myself that we
ought to do more than issue a demand, we need to figure out how to
bring it about and why the situation is where it is.
Otherwise, what's wrong with the Lomborgian reply that people just
don't care that much about helping other nations and what littlle they
are willing to spend on "development aid" should at least be spent
effectively as possible rather than wasted on feel good achieve
virtually nothing activism?
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