I see the police and military in the same way as I see doctors. While I don’t routinely go in for invasive surgery just for the fun of it, if I need a heart transplant or if I develop cancer, I want someone there who can take care of the problem. Doctors shouldn’t be running my life any more than the police or military (or bankers, lawyers, electricians, etc.) should. Everything has its purpose and place, and problems develop when any sector or segment of the population oversteps its bounds. That’s what cancer does in the body. Also, the military is a profession that specializes in the application of physical violence. The profession of arms is as important as any other profession, but it is a specialized tool that shouldn’t be used in place of diplomacy. A hammer is a great tool, but it is no substitute for a wrench or a knife. Likewise, military forces are to be used sparingly and only to take out malignant parts of society that can’t be dealt with humanely and in generally pro-social ways. Like with open-heart surgery, a surgeon wants to do minimal damage to surrounding tissue, and prevent infection. The military must exercise its power with minimal collateral damage, and in such a way that encourages a healthy society after the operation is over. Too many times throughout history, politicians and profiteers have sought to use the military for their own selfish ends, and they misapply military forces to try to affect certain outcomes. It *ALWAYS* fails, but the temptation is always there, and when in a bind, desperate people do desperate, short-sighted things. It’s called sacrifice, and sometimes we sacrifice what we want most for what we want now. Some sacrifices are justifiable and wise, while others are foolish and damaging overall.

The same can be said about the oil spill in the gulf. We want energy to maintain our lifestyle. We have to go farther and deeper to get new supplies. Deep ocean drilling is difficult, dangerous, and risky, but we choose to do it anyway to support our energy habit. Companies and countries try to minimize environmental damage, but it happens when things go wrong. I think that’s what the original poster had in mind by posting the comic. It’s not just soldiers who are dying to support our energy habit. Entire species and ecosystems are paying the price too, as well as unborn generations. Maybe someday we as individuals and as a society will not be so prone to making foolish sacrifices. In the meantime, we struggle on. Focus Fusion is one of those smart sacrifices worth supporting.