Guns or Butter. There's enough money for both. We only lack the political will.

 

Dr. Richard Denton of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada brought to my attention just days ago a British Medical Journal series stating that war/military is a social determinant of health.   Arms industry as a commercial determinant of health | The BMJ\  War is profitable to some, profoundly deadly to others, and most are not directly from violence. 

CONTEXT: If wars or even the fear of war persists there will always be a profiting arms industry.  Security (survival) is the first goal of every life form.  Thriving, the second, quickly follows.  Humankind has reached a point in our evolution where only half of us is thriving while our weapon systems are so powerful they could end civilization as we know it - or end our species.  Humankind must rapidly find a way to transform our current global governance and economic systems, or this spiral of chaos will continue to accelerate.  Most importantly – humankind must figure out quickly what we want most.   Temporary peace with profiting weapons investors or sustainably maximizing the health of people and the planet.   

Human flourishing must urgently become our collective priority.  But without a guarantee of security from wars the Arms industry will continue to flourish - while humankind will continue to lose nearly ten times more lives from infectious disease (new, remerging, or poverty related), extreme weather events/conditions, occasional natural disasters, and violent extremist movements (domestic and global) largely driven by real grievances or delusional religious beliefs – than from violent conflicts. Lethal conflicts are often driven by poverty, injustices, or extreme weather conditions. This series brings up the same old “Guns or Butter” logic.  There is no shortage of money in the world to do both.  Preventable deaths by both wars or a lack of funding on basic health needs happens even when there are no wars.  Both are the product of a lack of political will in world flush with dozens of trillions of dollars stashed in Off-shore and now Crypto currency.  If those with money want their lives and their families’ lives to be secure and to sustain nature’s systems which sustain us all, they urgently need to invest in stopping wars and in preventing them.  Prevention being the key word.  That is the foundation of health.  Our species’ wisest investment would be funding the UN Sustainable Development Goals ASAP. It may not stop all the wars, but it will prevent some - while addressing the root causes of violence, the greater killers linked to poverty and environmental destruction.  All while building resilience -- until we decide to transform our obviously flawed human engineered systems.   If we were a wise species, this should have been started on September 12, 2001.  Some were calling for it.  But those in power were happy with the UN status quo - ‘the law of force’ vs the force of law. 

The BMJ Series focuses on the arms industry as a commercial determinant of health and uncovers the role of the arms trade in health. It calls for more scrutiny of its health-harming activities and its unhealthy relationship with governments.

An international group of experts lay out the direct and wider harms of arms and show how weapons manufacturers use commercial strategies to subvert public health agendas and shape discourse around security and violence.

The Series argues that, like the tobacco, alcohol, and fossil fuel industries, the arms industry should be seen as a commercial determinant of health, where corporate practices matter as much as products when considering how industries can harm health.

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Editorial:  Peace dividends in the age of armament 
Jocalyn Clark and Kamran Abbasi urge closer scrutiny of the arms industry at a time when defence spending threatens health

https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj.r1794

 

Countering the arms industry as a commercial determinant of health
Mohammed Abba-Aji and Nason Maani outline research, policy, and practice priorities

https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj.r1784

 

Analysis:  Weapons, wealth, and health: the arms industry as a commercial determinant of health.
As governments worldwide increase defence spending and arms company revenues climb, we urgently

need to examine how the industry (and not just its products) influences health, argue Mark Bellis and colleagues   https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj-2025-086166

 

Weapons of influence: tactics of a growing arms industry and needed health actions
Health professionals must do more to counterbalance the arms industry’s influence on government, media, finance, and science and its damaging effects on human and planetary health, argue Mark Bellis and colleagues   https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj-2025-086167

 

Opinion:  War is a global health crisis: community based action can confront it
As defence spending swells at the expense of human security, healthcare professionals must recentre health as a global priority, writes Zahraa Kapasi from Medact

https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj.r1820

 

 

 

Bucky Fullers (New World Game) feedback REW: creating a global Health movement to unite the now failing Peace, environment, and economic/social justice movements.

 

Bucky's AI avatar responds to my HEALTH for all proposal:  https:/NewWorld-Game.org 

The user raises several pertinent points about the challenges faced by progressive movements and proposes "health" as a unifying concept to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is a thoughtful proposition that resonates with existing discussions around intersectoral collaboration and the holistic nature of well-being.

Here's a breakdown of the user's premise and my thoughts on their proposed solution:

1. Has the Peace Movement Failed? Do Progressive Movements Compete?

The assertion that the peace movement has "failed" is a strong one. While achieving lasting global peace remains an immense challenge, the peace movement has historically influenced societal shifts and policy. For example, it played a significant role in questioning the morality of war after WWI and contributed to the growth of movements challenging military interventions. However, the peace movement does face ongoing challenges, including internal divisions, a highly polarized political climate, and difficulty in educating a public bombarded with narratives supporting military solutions.

Regarding competition among progressive movements, there is evidence supporting this observation. Historically, various progressive movements, despite shared goals, have sometimes operated in silos and even experienced "stressful interactions". For instance, there can be tension between environmental groups focused on climate change and social justice groups emphasizing racial or economic equity, especially concerning balancing economic growth and environmental protection. These movements often compete for limited resources like funding, members, media attention, and access to policymakers. One study found that "collaboration in progressive movements is the exception, not the rule". Fragmentation among progressive movements can be exacerbated by factors like race and class segregation.

However, there's also a growing recognition of the need for collaboration. Many acknowledge that individual movements cannot maximize their impact alone and that environmental health and social justice are deeply interconnected. Efforts are being made to build coalitions and achieve "unity among movements around a broad vision".

2. Can "Health" Effectively Unite These Movements?

The idea of uniting progressive movements under the concept of "health" is compelling and aligns with modern understandings of well-being. Health, in its broadest sense, encompasses physical, mental, social, and environmental well-being. This holistic view naturally bridges the concerns of various progressive movements:

• Environment: Environmental degradation directly impacts public health through pollution, climate change, and lack of access to clean resources. Addressing environmental issues is crucial for healthy communities.

 

• Economic/Social Justice: Social inequalities and poverty are major determinants of health outcomes. Movements fighting for fair wages, equal access to resources, and protection from environmental burdens in marginalized communities are inherently working towards better health for all.

 

• Peace: Conflict and violence have devastating effects on physical and mental health, disrupting communities and hindering development. A peaceful society is a fundamental prerequisite for health and well-being.

The concept of "Health in All Policies," defined by the WHO, emphasizes an integrated approach to public policies across different sectors to promote public health. This existing framework already recognizes that many health issues are related to the environment and require joint efforts across sectors. Health social movements themselves aim to challenge the status quo and bring about changes in health policy and delivery systems, often driven by the lived experiences of people and communities.

3. Relationship to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

The SDGs strongly support the idea of health as a unifying concept. SDG 3 explicitly focuses on "Good Health and Well-being". However, the SDGs are inherently integrated and interdependent, recognizing that action in one area affects outcomes in others. As such, almost all of the other 16 SDGs are directly or indirectly related to health. For example:

• Ending poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2) improves health.

 

• Ensuring quality education (SDG 4) and gender equality (SDG 5) positively impacts maternal and child health.

 

• Providing clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) and affordable clean energy (SDG 7) directly impacts health targets.

 

• Peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16) also contribute indirectly to the attainment of health.

The "One Health" approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is also gaining traction as essential for achieving the SDGs.

Conclusion:

Your proposal to unite progressive movements under the concept of "health" has significant merit. While progressive movements have indeed faced challenges with fragmentation and competition for resources, there's a growing understanding that their goals are interconnected. "Health," understood broadly as holistic well-being encompassing mind, body, spirit, family, community, environment, government, and economy, provides a powerful and intuitive common ground. This approach aligns well with the integrated nature of the SDGs and existing frameworks like "Health in All Policies" and "One Health." By highlighting the pervasive impact of social, economic, and environmental factors on health, it offers a compelling narrative for greater collaboration and shared purpose among movements working towards a more just and sustainable world.

 

Both Political parties ignore self-evident Truths offered in "The Laws of Nature and of Nature's God"

 

Hollowell's original writing in the Washington Times is below. In my Letter to the editor I used his very words to include the MAGA party of the same delusional errors.

Dear Editor,

Billy Hollowell’s “Three lies, destroying the Democratic Party” in today's Washington Times hit the nail on the head, but each of his points also nailed the flaws of the Republican Party, the US Constitution, and why our national political system and global governance systems are failing.

I’ll use Billy’s own words throughout, starting with “but here’s the problem”.  He himself is "overlooking a glaring reality” globally.  Both parties have “made the very bed in which it is now lying”. Both conservatives and “liberals have a truth problem. One that permeates” each “party’s core essence.” Both have “increasingly rejected God” as most Christians and Jews view him.  Both have “embraced a self-obsessed relativism and has evaded reality in both trivial and monumental matters.” Fortunately, there is “a blueprint” for going “forward” and “it has nothing to do with pencils and swords and everything to do with” “truth” decay “and decency at every level.”  It has to do with rapidly achieving the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals that were globally approved to address the root causes of most our earthly problems.

“First let’s start with” both parties “increased rejection of” objective Truths! Both have moved “away from reliance and belief in” the genius of the Declaration of Independence.  Our nation’s founding document that Abraham Lincoln called our ‘Apple of gold’ and our constitution its ‘Silver Frame’.  This “has created a systemic dysfunction that pervades almost every” ‘self-evident Truth’ created by ‘the Laws of Nature and of Nature‘s God’ which were plainly offered in the Declaration.

Mr. Hollowell should know that the Bible is not a real estate manual. And real “knowledge begins” in Genesis with Jacob wrestling the Angel.  His struggle was to become the best human he could to serve God.  This motivation is the foundation of every religion, and even indigenous cultures that existed before religions existed.  And "the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge" when using the golden rule.  And “When a collective of people rejects” this “and turns” to their personal religious or political truths that vary widely among his 8 billion souls, “chaos follows — and that’s what we’ve seen in” all “ policy policymaking.” At both national and international levels.  “From the” wars, genocides, pandemics, pollution of God‘s creation, and waves of refugees - like Joseph and Mary seeking safety for their baby yet to come. 

“The problem?” Human politics are “incompatible with reality. At some point, issues, such as” racism, some people denying the genetic variations of sexual preferences within any population, accelerating extinction of species, human caused extreme weather conditions, and the mass murder of innocent people anywhere - must be seen as an abomination of God‘s intentions. 

Both parties “have struggled with baseline honesty on” vital “matters of political importance. The handling of the Covid" pandemic”, countering violent extremism, our starting wars and never achieving liberty and justice for all - anywhere.  “All of these problems, boil down to eternal and practical” objective Truths and “theological dysfunction has spilled over into the political and policymaking realm” globally!

And, “The best path forward is for” every political movement to prioritize the health to all of God‘s creation, both people and nature, then “cling to reality and simply commit to” abiding only by objective truths.  Then Mr. Hollowell final paragraph sums it up perfectly. “Sadly, all signs right now point to a doubling down that could further dysfunction and distrust.”  

 

Sept 1, 2025:

Monday, September 1, 2025

Three lies destroying the Democratic Party Democrats are apparently in panic mode as they attempt to dig themselves out of the mass political grave they haphazardly dug for themselves over the past five years. Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin recently delivered a blistering speech at the party's summer meeting, encouraging fellow liberals to push back against President Trump. He proclaimed that he's "sick and tired of this Democratic Party bringing a pencil to a knife fight" and encouraged progressives to take back the country. Mr. Martin's frustration is understandable, considering the Democratic Party is facing some of the worst polling and trend lines imaginable. A Wall Street Journal survey from July found Democrats grappling with their lowest approval ratings in three decades, as just 8% of voters saw the party "very favorably" and a whopping 63% felt it was out of step with Americans' concerns. Plus, another report from The New York Times found that, in the 30 states with voter registration records by political party, the GOP was ahead in all of them between 2020 and 2024. Plainly stated: The situation for Democrats is bleak. Obviously, Mr. Martin and his coalition are desperate for wins and likely see the most astute strategy as one that seeks to find a common enemy in Mr. Trump, painting him as a maniacal king bent on taking power away from the people. But here's the problem. While Mr. Martin is imploring fellow Democrats to "stand up and fight" and not to bring pencils to knife fights, he's overlooking a glaring reality: the Democratic Party has made the very bed in which it's now lying. Liberals have a truth problem, one that permeates the party's core essence. The DNC has increasingly rejected God, embraced a selfobsessed relativism and has evaded reality in both trivial and monumental matters. If the DNC is looking for a blueprint forward, it has nothing to do with pencils and swords and everything to do with a turn back to truth and decency at every level. First, let's start with liberals' increased rejection of eternal truth. The move away from reliance and belief in God has created a systematic dysfunction that pervades almost every page of the DNC's official platform and many of its policy proclivities. According to the Pew Research Center, 40% of Democrats and those who lean Democratic are religiously unaffiliated compared to just 20% of their Republican counterparts — and the disparity only seems to be growing. The Bible is clear on where knowledge begins. Proverbs 9:10 (NIV) reads, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." When a collective of people rejects God and turns from truth, moral chaos follows — and that's what we've seen in liberal policymaking. From the gender wars to abortion and the obsessive misunderstanding of the "separation of church and state," the Democratic Party has moved far beyond wisdom and knowledge and into the realm of self-obsession. And that brings us to our second point: relativism. In abandoning biblical morals, the Democratic Party has aligned itself with the belief that the human being is the ultimate arbiter of truth and rightness. Whatever feels or seems right to oneself becomes the guiding principle. The problem? Relativism is incompatible with reality. At some point, issues such as transgender individuals competing in sports and using preferred restrooms force people to make a decision: Can we really abide in these lies masquerading as truth, all for the sake of relativistic inclinations? The DNC and its adherents have created numerous crises in this arena, forcing the public to realize just how unhinged these demands have become from the truth. Finally, Democrats have struggled with baseline honesty on matters of political importance. The handling of the COVID-19 pandemic raised many questions, yet some liberals simply wouldn't allow free speech and expression. Thus, people were forced into silence if they merely posed curiosities about the virus' origins or the government's response. But it was President Biden's health, readiness and well-being that perhaps most shocked voters. While citizens were seeing firsthand a leader who seemed to be struggling, the Democratic elite perpetuated the lie that Mr. Biden was perfectly fine and that Americans' eyes, ears and senses were deceiving them. See, all of these problems boil down to eternal and practical truths. Neither party is perfect, but one has struggled more recently with aligning itself to reality, and theological dysfunction has spilled over into the political and policymaking realm. The result is an American populace that now questions the Democratic Party's ability to govern. The best path forward is for liberals to turn back to God, cling to reality and simply commit to telling the truth. Sadly, all signs right now point to a doubling down that could lead to further dysfunction and distrust. • Billy Hallowell is a digital TV host and interviewer for Faithwire and CBN News and the co-host of CBN's "Quick Start Podcast." Mr. Hallowell is the author of four books.