On Asymmetrical Information

I speak of asymmetrical information so often, I have shortened the expression to asymmetry. I recognize that asymmetry could refer our DNA programming concerning beauty, or chiral molecules, or many other miscellaneous uses for the word in science. Rather, when I use it, I will exclusively mean asymmetrical information.

My new, (cousin-in-law?), Reese was recently espousing a hot opinion about Clint Eastwoods' movie "Flags of Our Fathers". He insinuated that by telling the truth about the events of those days, we not only disrespect the soldiers, and their offspring; but harm future prospects of soldier recruitment. It was his contention that soldier recruitment was necessary to uphold our military strength and war-making ability.

This sounds as if Reese believes that asymmetrical information helps keep up the supply of soldiers. If this is true, it must be that some utility (for the potential soldier) is lost by more complete understanding of what goes on in warfare and the wartime public relations "machine". Certainly, certain occupations are effected by public relations and media exposure. Perhaps the "Doug Flute" effect is worth mentioning here. The Doug Flute effect is the rise in public interest that the victorious teams University achieves from significant sports victories.

From the "price theory" perspective, I am reminded of some of the research I've done on the development of the US oil industry. It began with whale oil, progressed thu coal oil and settled (currently) on oil derived from drilling deep into the earth. Between each transition, a price spike caused the the next energy source to become newly viable.

If the "cost" of war is based upon keeping the price down for one of the major "inputs" (namely soldiers); perhaps this is not such a bad result. Reese's opinion can be backed up with facts dating from Vietnam until present day. Today's casualty reports pale compared with conflicts in the past, but our public seems to have no stomach for the losses. Some have interpreted this lack of public will as a national character flaw; but I think that through media involvement (starting in Nam), the previous condition of asymmetrical information has steadily been dissolving.
Previously only the military and its soldiers knew the "true" costs of warfare. No nations citizenry will support warfare without compelling reasons for its existence.

The bright side may be that future trends may lean away from war as a viable solution to problems. So ultimately both Reese and I could be right, only the final results are in question.