If we get a President that actually cares about America and its people....

could she/he dismantle the Military/Industrial complex? Is there any realistic hope of that? If yes, how would such a President go about it? Thanks, in advance, for your thoughts......

At this point, I really think it will take something catastrophic to dismantle the monster our government has become. I am short on hope these days.

If said president really cared about Americans, would he want to leave more than a million of them unemployed?

I think the crux of the argument is not to dismantle the military/industrial complex, but to lessen its power. That's done by limiting defense expenditures, which a president can call for in a budget but which, in the final assessment, is up to Congress.

ramping down. We need all of those trillions (accounted for and otherwise) to help in the Boomer retirement crunch, our health care fiasco, the rebuilding of our infrastructure, and the weaning off of fossil fuels and the implementing of renewable energy systems. These important tasks can employ millions upon millions in good jobs here in America.

Honestly, the more people that are employed building bombs and military technology results in more people having a stake in actually going to war on a regular basis. This needs to be "nipped in the bud". This bunch has beaten our plowshares into swords and we need to undo that, imo. It wouldn't be easy to save America, but it is possible.

Some PR Guy, said that he wants a Dem to win in '08 so that we stick with the M-I-C, that if the GOP wins again then the Dem's will finally get out of this crazy military thing and revolt against the system.

Presidents now feel "That Bell can not be unrung", the MIC is here to stay. Presidents no longer care about Americans (if any ever did) but about a Nebulous America, one which exists in dreams and nightmares and has never been nor never will...

pessimism..........yet. I just believe that someone COULD get into office that would care and try. I think Jimmy Carter was such a man. However, all hell would break loose and it would be very difficult to truly make a change unless a VERY vocal and street active public supported her/his efforts. It would be a turning point in this nation. I think we have seen flashes in the past....the Roosevelts come to mind. Anyway, we will see......

I actually think Kennedy was moving in that direction when he got murdered. Ike was the first to warn us of it in his farewell address.