The $ 700 Billion Gorilla in the Room | Philip A. Farruggio

Philip A. FarruggioPhilip A. Farruggio -- World News Trust

Sept. 25, 2017

As a preface to this column, something occurred concerning this writer over 30 years ago.

I was taking a long-deserved vacation by myself, in Martinique, at a Club Med. Between the terrible August heat and humidity, and the "army of mosquitoes" attacking me in my room, I said "Screw this" and left the resort early on... at my own extra expense.

Upon arriving at my attic apartment in Elmont, New York, I remember climbing the stairs, reaching my apartment and falling to my knees, kissing my carpet! I promised myself to never again make fun of my country and the many good and decent folks here.

I did then, and do now, love my country... but not this empire!

Let's face it, we are in the last stages of this Military Industrial Empire. The super-rich who run it have plundered and warred us for too long. They established our powerful position during WWII when they schemed along with the Brits to stand back and allow the Germans and Russians to destroy each other. This was halted a bit when Stalin began to extort a second front from the Allies after the German defeat at Stalingrad. Sources from inside of the Soviet Union and Germany told of a deal being discussed between the aforementioned adversaries for a separate peace deal. This got FDR and Churchill to push forward with the eventual Operation Overlord at Normandy.

Why is this information so important now? Most importantly, this Amerikan and British mindset ushered us into a Cold War that lasted for 50 years (and is now being renewed again). It shows how the "movers and shakers" of our current empire will stop at almost nothing to continue this Military Madness! As long as but eight out of 100 Senators stand alone in saying NO to the increases in our current obscene military spending, or worse yet, how all of them refuse to legislate cuts in it... we are going down the abyss of a failed empire.

Didn't the recent three devastating hurricanes reveal things to our fellow citizens? Most of them, to this day, still do NOT get it! FEMA was set up to deal with these natural disasters, and it just does NOT have the funding needed to do the job correctly. How many of my neighbors and yours see that?

As usual, the super-rich who run this empire keep feeding us the bullshit that we the people should be doing most of the helping out. What in God's name is the government for!? Imagine if instead of over Half of your federal taxes going for military spending, if even 10 percent of that money went for infrastructure, not only would the economy be stimulated, but these natural disasters would be lessened as to their effects.

Imagine if another 10 percent of that money went to help jumpstart a viable Medicare for All (who want it) program, lessening what each of us would have to contribute and helping to fund the costs of healthcare.

Need I go on and on? With another 10 percent cut from that bloated and corrupt military spending we could see millions more first providers, well-equipped libraries and public schools, with better-paid teachers and school psychologists.

This insanity of perpetual war, 1,000 foreign bases, overkill WMDs and crazy FEAR Mongering by our elected officials must be stopped! Isn't it ironic that just as Trump and his cabal of Pentagon warriors sent out the threat of the madman renamed "Rocket man" ready to attack us, the compliant Congress signs off on this $700 Billion Gorilla.

Wake up folks! This two party "One Party" con job is going to keep you not only in perpetual fear, and of course with the "USA USA" mindset, but failing financially as this cookie crumbles! When over half of your tax revenue goes in this direction, hundreds of millions of working stiffs will continue to struggle to keep above water... as the super-rich drain us of our personal resources and safety net.

That gorilla needs to be fed... with your blood, sweat and tears!

PA Farruggio

September 2017

Philip A Farruggio is a son and grandson of Brooklyn, New York, longshoremen. He has been a freelance columnist since 2001, with more than 300 of his essays posted on sites like Consortium News, Information Clearing House, Nation of Change, World News Trust, Op-Ed News, Dissident Voice, Counterpunch, Activist Post, Sleuth Journal, Truthout and many others. His blog can be read in full on World News Trust., whereupon he writes a great deal about the need to cut military spending drastically and send the savings back to save our cities. Philip has an internet interview show, "It's the Empire... Stupid" with producer Chuck Gregory, and can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.