National security
Introduction
Since 9/11, America has been combating terrorism to protect the population and prevent future threats. For many decades, terrorists have threatened national security but currently, America has realized that many security threats are affecting national security. Today, the greater threat is not terrorism but there are other dangerous risks known as the internal economy. Unfortunately, elected officials pay little attention to economic issues yet Americans are experiencing huge economic vulnerability. Currently, the national debt has increased to over $22 trillion, and by 2029 the national debt will rise. Economic problems are a threat to American security. It is important to note that national security is not only about defining the national borders but national security encompasses other aspects such as the economy and environmental concerns. In the twenty-first century, the current issues being debated are about economic constraints. The U.S is experiencing economic doldrums and the current debate concerning national security is based on ensuring full economic recovery using the rich man's approach. In return, the economic security will provide the nation with soft powers which will contribute to elements of national security such as economic stability, democracy, sustainable development, and human rights.
In the Nation magazine, Menon (2018) states that the greatest threat to national security is the internal economy though it is a neglected dimension. According to the federal poverty measures, 12.7% of Americans are poor, half of all Americans do not have savings, and in 2007 and 2014, 11% and 14% of Americans were struggling with the costs of food respectfully (Menon, 2018). An important point to note is that poverty is not only contributed by unemployment since many Americas have full-time jobs. However, poverty comes as a result of low-income jobs and low earning. For example, Americans are in the labor force but they are experience low earning and other problems like part-time work. This means that people are experiencing economic insecurity yet policymakers do not consider this as a big problem (Menon, 2018). It is important to note that the working poor are homeless, and they sleep on the streets. They are unable to pay for their medical expenses as they are not enrolled in healthcare plans, they lack food, rent, and transportation costs. The bottom line is that the working poor experience real risk since the government does not assist. It is important to reconsider the national security from the perspective of economic inequality.
The two competing solutions toward maintaining national security through an economic perspective are the macroeconomic policies and microeconomic policies (Nanto, 2011). Microeconomics means that in addressing the issue of economic security, the government focus on promoting general well-being. The macroeconomic policies entail long-term economic growth, coordination of foreign policies, provision of economic assistance, and development of democracy. In most cases, policymakers solve economic issues using the national security developed in 2010 but these policies are limited in that they are complex in nature. In specific, the 2010 national security strategy is concerned with physical security, global financial crisis, federal budget deficit, and the presence of the emerging nations (Nanto, 2011). However, these policies destabilize national security since they focus on preventing future threats yet they do not address the current issues such as poverty. These pickles have promoted national security by reducing the budget deficit, fostering economic growth, building capabilities, cooperating with other nations, advocating for human rights, and developing technology and innovation (Nanto, 2011). However, these policies are questioned due to security and economic environment. However, current policy on maintaining national security goes beyond the macroeconomic policies that focus on monetary policy and fiscal policy and pays interest to the microeconomic policy that pays interest to individuals, firms, and industries.
The new policy is based on microeconomics or the need to address the issues facing households, workers, and businesses. The microeconomic policy which is also perceived as a 'rich man's approach is deemed necessary in that it focuses on well-being for the Americans. Even though it is also concerned with increasing military capability and interacting with other nations, the bottom line is that the 'rich man's approach focus on supplying science and technology, natural resources, and other elements that support the citizens to conduct economic activity (Nanto, 2011). This means that it is the role of federal, state, and local governments to ensure that the Americas have a stable economy, entrepreneurial support, employment, education and training, and investing in research.
However, critics argue that microeconomic policies cannot promote national security as it focuses on the economy under certain conditions. Rather than understanding the whole market, it is interested in demand and supply, costs of production, and labor economies. They argue that microeconomic is associated with unrealistic assumptions or lacks a true picture of the labor issues, it analyzes data from individual behavior, and it unable to solve economic issues from a national perspective (Nanto, 2011). Thus, they support the macroeconomic on the basis that it provides a big picture of the economy. However, critics are wrong since the government must use the micro-economy to understand the social mechanisms. For a government to make economic policies, it must protect the industry, it must identify uncompetitive practices and protect the industry form abusing their power, it must improve the environmental conditions, and it must control the price (Nanto, 2011). This means that besides putting the general economic factors into concern, the government needs to address the issues affecting the individual citizens and strengthen the economic institutions to achieve democracy and show the international actors that the country is transparent and accountable. Therefore, microeconomic policies are effective in increasing productivity. Workers gain education and training or knowledge-based economy, and they maintain national security through technology capabilities.
Conclusion
To solve the current national security, there is a need for a healthy economy. The government should come up with policies that promote human capital capabilities and ensure that the national gains economic viability. Note that without a good economy, life deteriorates and the society disintegrates, Even though the national security needs a strong military capability, it is also important to include the economy as an element of the nation's security. It is important to note that the country does not only depend on border security but other factors that foster democracy such as economy, politics, global environment, and more need to be considered. Both microeconomic and macroeconomic policies play a significant role in maintaining national security but policymakers pay little attention to microeconomic policies. The paper recommends that in addressing the current of national security which is affected by the poor economy, policymakers should value the role of microeconomic in benefiting the society as a whole and in the interrelationship of microeconomic elements will ultimately increase the national security.
References
Nanto, D. K. (2011). Economics and national security: Issues and implications for US policy.
DIANE Publishing.
Menon Rajan. (2018).The United States Has A National-Security Problems And It’s Not What
You Think. TheNation. Retrieved from: https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/united-states-national-security-problem-not-think/
