Memorial Day is a good time to reflect on the horrors of war. Whether you’re an isolationist or a hawk, the reality is that war has always existed and, sadly, it looks like the future is booked solid with upcoming conflicts.

In my view, the chief cause of war is the existence of governments — governments led by unscrupulous politicians. Dwight D. Eisenhower warned Americans of the dangers stemming from the military-industrial complex, which politicians control. Like the pharmaceutical industry, the military-industrial complex has an inherent conflict of interest, because all those involved in it profit from war.

I thought about this as I watched PBS’s heartrending Memorial Day special this morning. (It will be shown many times today, so if you haven’t yet seen it, be sure to tune in.)

Most people see veterans as heroes, but some think of them as baby killers. Either way, I’m inclined to see them as pawns of cynical politicians. But however you view them, the fact is that they put their lives on the line for what they believed were just causes, and millions of them lost limbs, cognitive functions, or didn’t even make it back alive.

I, like most people outside the military-industrial complex, am against all war that isn’t based on true self-defense. But since the powers that be seem to be hopelessly addicted to organized violence, no expense should be spared to help those who have fought wars that politicians have gotten us in to.

If I were king, I’d abolish food stamps, unemployment benefits, and all other forms of welfare, and I’d shift the money into programs to help returning veterans. But, then again, if I were king, war would become an anachronism and there would be fewer and fewer veterans in need.

Of course, I’d still cut out most welfare programs and let people keep more of their own money. But that’s not what I’m focused on today. If the government was using your tax dollars to properly take care of veterans, there would be no need for noble projects like Wounded Warrior. You already contributed to the Wounded Warrior Project when you paid your taxes.

The fact that such projects exist speaks worlds about government corruption and waste.