Imagine playing with matches in a room full of dynamite. Now imagine doing it twice. That’s exactly what our government bureaucrats seem to be doing these days – except instead of matches, they’re playing with missiles and dangerous viruses.
Let’s explore two ways our world could face serious trouble, all because some people in distant offices are making risky decisions. And trust me, nothing ruins your Sunday plans quite like a nuclear explosion or a lab-leaked virus.
Part 1: The Missile Game
Currently, America and its allies are sending powerful missiles to Ukraine. These aren’t your typical Fourth of July fireworks – we’re talking about ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles that can fly deep into Russian territory. It’s like giving your neighbor a super-powered slingshot to shoot at a grumpy bear’s cave. Sure, they think the bear’s been causing trouble, but poking it might not end well for anyone.
Putin (the bear in our story) isn’t happy about this. He’s basically said, “If you keep this up, I might have to use my biggest, scariest weapons” – meaning nuclear weapons. An entire generation of Americans remembers those old duck-and-cover drills from the Cold War. Well, they might be making a comeback, and not in a fun, retro way.
And Putin isn’t just talking tough – he’s showing off his toys. Imagine throwing a baseball from New York to Washington DC in just two minutes – that’s how fast this new missile moves (we’re talking 9 times faster than sound!). This isn’t your average missile either – it’s like a high-speed delivery truck that splits into multiple packages mid-flight. The scary part? Once it’s in the air, there’s no catching it. It’s like trying to catch bullets fired from a machine gun with your bare hands – basically impossible.
Part 2: The Lab Leak Story
Now, let’s rewind a few years to another dangerous game some bureaucrats played. They thought it was a good idea to fund research in China that made viruses stronger – something called “gain-of- function” research. Imagine giving a cold virus superpowers and hoping it stays in its cage. What could go wrong?
Well, we all know what happened next. COVID-19 spread worldwide, causing about $20 trillion in damage to America’s economy alone. That’s like emptying out 20 million piggy banks filled with a million dollars each! And sadly, millions of people lost their lives.
The Common Thread: Bureaucrats Gone Wild
Here’s the ironic part: The people making these huge decisions weren’t elected by anyone. They’re like permanent residents in Washington’s power halls, staying there no matter who becomes president. They make choices that could affect whether we all live or die, but they never have to ask us what we think about it.
Think about this: If someone told you there was a 10% chance your house would explode if you turned on your toaster, would you make toast? Probably not! But these bureaucrats are okay with similar risks when it comes to nuclear war or dangerous lab experiments.
Recently, Americans voted in presidential elections, sending a clear message: “Hey, we don’t want World War III, thank you very much!” It’s like the whole country raising their hands to say, “Can we maybe not play with nuclear matches?”
The Way Forward: A Five-Point Plan
- Immediate Oversight: Congressional emergency sessions on both nuclear deployment and biolab protocols. This would ensure that elected representatives have a say in decisions that could affect the entire population.
- Risk Assessment Revolution: Independent civilian oversight panels with real veto power. These panels should include experts from various fields to provide a comprehensive risk assessment.
- Accountability Framework: Personal liability legislation for officials making extinction-risk decisions. This would ensure that those making high-stakes decisions are held accountable for their actions.
- Transparency Mandate: Weekly public risk assessment updates. Transparency is key to building trust and ensuring that the public is informed about the risks they face.
- Democratic Controls: Required public consultation for all extinction-level risk decisions. This would give the public a voice in decisions that could affect their lives and the future of humanity.
A Dark Joke with a Point
They say the only things certain in life are death and taxes. But nowadays, we should add “bureaucrats making risky decisions” to that list. And while nothing ruins your weekend like a nuclear explosion or a pandemic, maybe we should stop these problems before they start.
The Bottom Line
It’s time to tell our permanent government workers that playing with civilization-ending risks isn’t in their job description. Whether it’s missiles that could start World War III or super-powered viruses that could escape labs, we need to be more careful. Because unlike in video games, we don’t get extra lives if things go wrong.
Remember: Just because someone wears a suit and works in a government office doesn’t mean they should have the power to accidentally end the world. Let’s keep the existential risks to science fiction movies, where they belong.
As the ancient Romans understood: “Who watches the watchmen?” In 2024, the answer must be: All of us.
Dave Ramaswamy is an independent commentator on geopolitics and strategic affairs.
