Dick also realized that as important as the inhabitants of a planet, is the world in which they live and how it would be impacted by nuclear warfare. The use of radioactive weaponry has a potential negative effect on our environment as well, which the author references when Nasha asks the question, “"The gun that fired the projectiles survived," Nasha said. "Why not people?” and Fomar responds, “"It's not the same. Metal doesn't need air to breathe. Metal doesn't get leukemia from radioactive particles. Metal doesn't need food and water (Dick)." During the Cold War, large amounts of both uranium and plutonium were both created, producing nuclear waste. This waste is toxic and can find its way into bodies of water used for drinking, soil used for planting, or the overall atmosphere, polluting an entire environment. The author’s reference to this environmental impact to negatively portray nuclear radiation shows the concern he had for the future and its influence on his work. (Egeland)
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Due to the Cold War, the United States military and weapons production both increased significantly. American society began a transition from a diverse economy full of many occupations to an overbearing military industry, known as the military industrial complex. Dick alludes to this transition within his story through the commentary of Dorle once the crew finds the gun, "They must have been used to the sight, guns, weapons, uniforms. Probably they accepted it as a natural thing, part of their lives, like eating and sleeping. An institution, like the church and the state. Men trained to fight, to lead armies, a regular profession. Honored, respected (Dick)." Through the initiation of the Cold War, the United States government began growing their military and increasing their defense spending. President Truman soon allowed the American defense budget to rise from $15 billion to $40 billion and the number of active military members to increase by more than half. The increase in military spending and focus on war beginning in the early 1950’s, allowed for violence and militaristic ideals to creep into citizens’ everyday lives.
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As more defense contractors began to partner with the United States government to create new weapons and technology, increased lobbying ensued and policy began to shift towards that of a militaristic economy and the desires of the major corporations. The focus and spending on defense also had a major influence on American universities. Major corporations have a large say in the research and development that takes place on college campuses and in their scientific labs. During the 1950’s, university students performed large amounts of research for major military corporations, helped consult the companies on how to operate certain systems and created new weapons. A brand new wave of college students with minds geared towards that of military production began to graduate and enter the work force, seeking careers in their known industry, defense. The fear of a society only prepared to produce weapons was potentially becoming a reality, and impacted the lives of many, including Dick and his short story, The Gun. (New American Nation)
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