On January 17, 1961, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave a farewell address just before John F. Kennedy took over the presidency. Eisenhower fought in World War One, and was a military officer for most of his life. He served as General of the Army and Army Chief of Staff in the years of World War Two and thereafter. His stellar military career led to him being elected president twice, beginning in 1952. He was a Republican. In light of his career and his political affiliation, what Eisenhower said in his farewell address is utterly amazing. Basically, he warned that the US military, along with its allies in war industries and politics, might end up in control of the United States. Here’s an excerpt from his speech:

You hear a lot of talk and worry about the environment, wars, the economy, this, that and the other…and most of us think we know the reasons for all the messes, or have the solutions for how to make the world a better place.

Some folks blame Obama, or they blame the Republicans, or the conservatives or the liberals.