War is a way of shattering to pieces, or pouring into the stratosphere, or sinking in the depths of the sea, materials which might otherwise be used to make the masses too comfortable, and hence, in the long run, too intelligent.
George Orwell
Thanks to Diane (a TRB reader) / The Rag Blog / Posted July 24, 2008
Actually, war is a way of getting rid not only of surplus resources and production, as Orwell notes, but also of surplus workers.
Much war production is of things intended to be destroyed: bullets, bombs, MREs, etc. — rather than of things which would provide comfort to the masses.
Karl Marx figured this stuff out a little in advance of Orwell.