Privatization of social services by state governments has resulted in the
Lockhead Martin Information Management Systems (a subsidiary of Lockhead Martin,
largest arms maker in the USA) having contracts from various state governments
to run the welfare-to-work programs.  The privatization of government
services has been and is a much debated issue.  Has this privatization helped or
hindered support of breastfeeding?

In 1995 Martin Marietta merged with Lockheed Martin, making Lockheed Martin
the largest arm's maker.  One of the spin-off companies of Martin Marietta is
Martek Bioscience, maker of DHA and AA additives to infant formula.  Thus, we
have an industry whose primary business is war involved quite extensively in
some US states in the welfare-to-work programs.  And this industry in a
peripheral way is involved in the making of ingredients for infant formula.

It seems that our government's war on poverty means that mothers in poverty
will have to "abandon" their infants to the system at 3 months.  And often this
abandonment will mean that breastfeeding never occurs (mothers tell me that
they don't want to get too attached because they will just have to leave them)
or that breastfeeding quickly ends (what minimum wage job offers pumping or
nursing breaks?).  It is sad that these babies will be the future young men and
women who will join our military to escape this poverty.

Profits are a big motivational factor in much of our present-day culture.  It
does not seem surprising to me that the manufacturing of bombs and bullets
goes hand and hand with the making of infant formula.  Why would industries that
base their economic survival on war, encourage loving attachments among the
people who will serve in the wars?
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC

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