LA Times: Profits Clothed in Sadness

OPP, Ala. — Euna DuBose works in a factory sewing camouflage trousers for the Marines. As the grandmother of three soldiers, this gives her some uneasy moments.

An extra-small pair of pants will make her think: This fellow's just a baby. She'll wonder: Will he get home safe? And what about her son's sons — one in Afghanistan, one awaiting orders in Mississippi, one just home from Mosul but perhaps destined to return to Iraq?

DuBose never had thoughts like this with her last job, when she made Levi's.

"I'd rather be doing jeans," the 70-year-old said. "No emotions were involved."

She doesn't have much of a choice. The last jeans factory here failed two years ago. But the Marine uniform plant is thriving.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-warecon31dec31.story

figures.

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Economists have long known that war can stimulate jobs and growth. World War II is widely credited with pulling the U.S. out of the Great Depression. In 1939, the increase in military spending amounted to 2% of the growth in the economy. By 1942, it was 100%.

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Keep the wall street boys happy, throw some crumbs to the working people, and don't worry about who we borrow the money from to do it or how many people get killed or maimed in the process.