“It is part of the general pattern of misguided policy that our country is now geared to an arms economy which was bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and nurtured upon an incessant propaganda of fear.”
- January 26, 1880 – April 5, 1964
- American
- General of the Army, Military Leader, Supreme Commander in the Pacific Theater during World War II
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Quote
“It is part of the general pattern of misguided policy that our country is now geared to an arms economy which was bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and nurtured upon an incessant propaganda of fear.”
Explanation
This quote presents a blistering critique of Cold War-era militarization and fear-driven governance, with MacArthur warning that the United States had fallen into a dangerous cycle of perpetual armament and psychological manipulation. He refers to this state as a “misguided policy,” one that fosters an economy dependent on military spending, sustained not by genuine need, but by engineered hysteria and relentless propaganda. The phrase “artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria” reflects his belief that the public’s fear had been manufactured to justify unchecked military buildup.
MacArthur’s perspective was shaped by his long military career and his eventual disillusionment with how war was politicized in the nuclear age. In this statement, he suggests that the military-industrial complex had come to dominate national priorities, distorting both economic strategy and public consciousness. His warning echoes that of President Eisenhower, who also cautioned against the economic and moral dangers of a nation dependent on defense spending and psychological fear.
In today’s context, the quote resonates in discussions about defense budgets, global arms races, and the influence of fear in politics and media. It challenges citizens to question whether national policies are truly grounded in necessity or manipulated by those with vested interests. MacArthur’s insight urges a return to rational governance, transparency, and a foreign policy rooted in diplomacy rather than perpetual readiness for war.
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