The Misesian (TM): You have remarked that after 1900, all the pieces come into place for modernity in terms of the American warfare state. What are some of these pieces and how did they fall into place at that time?Hunt Tooley (HT): To some extent, the state has always used wars to maintain and increase domestic control.Shakespeare assumed as much in the famous instructions the dying Henry IV gives to his son: “Therefore, my Harry, be it thy course to busy giddy minds with foreign quarrels.” In other words, perpetual wars can confuse the minds of those who might otherwise be likely to object to the ruthlessness and cynicism of leaders who wage wars to enhance their power at home.After the 16th century, the new European-style state adopted the war strategy with few

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