War Tax

Public opinion has been sharply divided on the Afghani and Iraqi conflicts, as it was with the Viet Nam War.  But the public reaction to the recent wars has been far more muted.

Other differences abound, but fundamentally the American public has no skin in the game.  The draft made the Viet Nam War personal for men at, or near, draft age, and for their families.  Going back to WWII, everyone was impacted.  Rationing, and diversion of resources to the war effort, extended the war to families without active duty participants.  The recent conflicts are remote control wars.  Our only involvement is the nano second it takes to change the channel, if the wars are mentioned on the nightly news.

Skin in the game can lead to fervent patriotism, and common sacrifice, as in WWII, or to the massive protests evident during the Viet Nam era.  But one way or another, the public is involved.  In a Democracy, the expenditure of lives and resources should be predicated on broad public support.

To ensure public involvement, I would propose that any prolonged military involvements be paid for through a duly labeled war tax surcharge.  This promotes intergenerational fairness.  The cost of current policy should not burden the next generation.  But most importantly, the public would literally be buying into the war.  Public indifference will be replaced by a cost benefit analysis.