Morality is not determined by the church you attend nor the faith you embrace. It is determined by the quality of your character and the positive impact you have on those you meet along your journey
Thursday, September 05, 2013
Maybe now is a good time to revisit President Eisenhower's 1961 warning about the Military Industrial Complex.
I think John McCain's slacker attitude about the Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. intervention in Syria means he is representing the M-IC. He's a lobbyist in a senator's clothing. Guess the sequester is starting to pinch. Why else nudge the nation toward another war?
You bring up an important point. I don't recall the sequester being mentioned as a major hurdle to clear in funding this exhibition of Imperial superiority in warfare---one that the United States MUST engage in for us to maintain our *respect* in the world community, while the other 149 signatories to the goddam treaty stand by and throw handfuls of rice at us and wish us luck. Yep, it's so important to everyone that we make a go at it alone. Apparently, the oil profits from Iraq that never materialized to pay for the Iraqi invasion will instead be used to float this venture. Certainly we would never ask Big Oil to do anything other than to cash the record-sized checks for the largest profits in the history of the world since W, Cheney, and Rummie set the table for them 10.5 years ago. Hmmm, record profits for Big Oil while trashing the American economy, costing 4500 lives of American servicemen, an unreported number of American contractors (civilian and combat) of up to a third more, plus the cost in *collateral damage* of innocent human lives--- God only knows him many---125,000? 200,000? A million? For what benefit other than the profits harvested by the MIC?
Many of the civilians in DoD support have been forced to take personal leave and unpaid days off from their jobs because of the sequester. I understand that in times of emergency, the rules are different. But did the Senate just lift the constraints on spending that is not directly related to this upcoming *squirmish*?
Buying a car is expensive, but having the dealer or manufacturer hide add-on costs not represented in the sticker price until the first payment is due is entirely unethical. Worse, being forced to buy a car that one doesn't need and to pay an excessive cost for it, whether it fits my budget or not, is criminal.
At least be up front and tell me how much the goddam thing is going to cost. To fail to do that tells me you don't care. Okay, you can get back to your iPhone poker now, Senator McCain and others. Sorry to bother you all with trivial matters. Pass the K-Y on down this way. This ain't gonna be any more pleasant than the last time. By the way, who makes this stuff, Halliburton? It feels like its got sand in it.
Imagine what Five-Star General, Commander of the Allied Forces, NATO Commander, President of Columbia University, and, to top it off, President of the United States Dwight Eisenhower would make of Sarah Palin.
He was one of five sons of a fiercely determined couple in rural Kansas, who trained them, taught them and gave them the confidence to succeed. One of his brothers was the President of Johns Hopkins University, one a noted scientist.
This, Sarah, is what it's all about. One doesn't need to be born into an elite culture, but one needs to strive to learn and improve and succeed. For those with brains and determination, the possibilities are always there. Just don't continue to believe that because Fairy Godmother John McCain tapped you with his magic wand, your good luck will continue. Without real work, you and your family will sink back into obscurity.
I'm a retired military officer and I remember seeing this years ago. I can't tell you how many enlisted soldiers and their families I saw that were on WIC, food stamps or other support because they needed it. I would ensure they were taken to Army Community Services to get help from a financial advisor to help them manage their money, but still they needed additional help. I couldn't help but notice how mostly Republicans talked about taking care of soldiers and making ours the best military. Unfortunately, to them that means supporting the defense contractors and making them rich rather than giving soldiers better pay. And yes, I know, they chose to enlist. But considering what that enlistment entails, what's wrong with a living wage?
The soldier/sailor's pledge to uphold and defend the constitution should not be construed as willingly commiting his or her family to be impoverished--- in addition to the other personal risks of military service, which include separation from loved ones, additional emotional and physical stress, bodily harm, and possibly death.
If we can't provide a them with a modicum of dignity in their personal lives, then I am ashamed to ask them to fulfill their duties to their country that they undertake with their swearing in to the armed services. I'm not speaking of fancy parades and talk of patriotism and flag-waving. I'm personally just as weary of those fake patriots who are cashing in on war industry as I am the fake christianists, none of whom seem to ever have loved ones who are cannon fodder; Neither do they go into their closet to pray in private as Jesus told them to do. Instead, they pray as loud as they can on the busiest street corner and and constantly trumpet their own virtue, as though others wouldn't know their righteousness by observing their lives.
The propaganda that is used to seduce our young adults into sacrificing their bodies, minds, lives and the welfare of their families is a lie if we do not treat our responsibility to these young men and women as a serious commitment.
For one of the leading proponents for constant war that this country has had in generations ---John McCain--- to be unembarrassed to any degree by his inability to at least pretend that a briefing on an upcoming debate about a war... Senator McCain should resign, as should anyone else of any political stripe who considers such a serious matter to be a priority only if it enhances the odds for their political survival.
I don't recall anyone bringing up President Eisenhower's incredible speech prior to our invasion of Iraq. Would the Bush White House have considered him to be unpatriotic as they accused anyone who questioned their motives to be? Beaglemom
This was the beginning of our slide toward a dystopian society dedicated to never ending war that will feed the corporations making machines of war and the government that supports them with declarations of war, soldiers to fight those wars and money to continue the buying and selling of propaganda and killing machines.
Now you know one of the reasons the right is totally against birth control, abortion or sex ed. They need the bodies to toss into the meat grinder known as warfare.
Eisenhower's famed speech is especially meaningful as it was given a few days before he left office and JFK was sworn in. Ike saw what was coming.
Now, as the debate about Syria heats up, let's be clear and not forget what we just went through with Iraq. The war profiteers will use ANY excuse, any scare, any lie, any means to convince us that we need to engage. They show us photos of dead children -- who THEIR WEAPONS murdered-- and try to convince us that more destruction will prevent this!?!?!?!?!
The right wingers who always love war are now caught between a rock and a hard place. They cannot possibly give assent to anything that this president asks for! Oh dear, their favorite game (WAR) versus their most demonized leader -- which way to go?? Of course these are false choices.
Only the war industry wins in a war. Everyone else loses.
While Eisenhower is one of the few Republicans I respect, I can't help but notice the irony in his speech as he was the one who sent the first combat troops to Vietnam in 1957.
I think John McCain's slacker attitude about the Foreign Relations Committee hearing on U.S. intervention in Syria means he is representing the M-IC. He's a lobbyist in a senator's clothing. Guess the sequester is starting to pinch. Why else nudge the nation toward another war?
ReplyDeleteChenagrrl,
DeleteYou bring up an important point. I don't recall the sequester being mentioned as a major hurdle to clear in funding this exhibition of Imperial superiority in warfare---one that the United States MUST engage in for us to maintain our *respect* in the world community, while the other 149 signatories to the goddam treaty stand by and throw handfuls of rice at us and wish us luck. Yep, it's so important to everyone that we make a go at it alone. Apparently, the oil profits from Iraq that never materialized to pay for the Iraqi invasion will instead be used to float this venture. Certainly we would never ask Big Oil to do anything other than to cash the record-sized checks for the largest profits in the history of the world since W, Cheney, and Rummie set the table for them 10.5 years ago. Hmmm, record profits for Big Oil while trashing the American economy, costing 4500 lives of American servicemen, an unreported number of American contractors (civilian and combat) of up to a third more, plus the cost in *collateral damage* of innocent human lives--- God only knows him many---125,000? 200,000? A million? For what benefit other than the profits harvested by the MIC?
Many of the civilians in DoD support have been forced to take personal leave and unpaid days off from their jobs because of the sequester. I understand that in times of emergency, the rules are different. But did the Senate just lift the constraints on spending that is not directly related to this upcoming *squirmish*?
Buying a car is expensive, but having the dealer or manufacturer hide add-on costs not represented in the sticker price until the first payment is due is entirely unethical. Worse, being forced to buy a car that one doesn't need and to pay an excessive cost for it, whether it fits my budget or not, is criminal.
At least be up front and tell me how much the goddam thing is going to cost. To fail to do that tells me you don't care. Okay, you can get back to your iPhone poker now, Senator McCain and others. Sorry to bother you all with trivial matters. Pass the K-Y on down this way. This ain't gonna be any more pleasant than the last time. By the way, who makes this stuff, Halliburton? It feels like its got sand in it.
Imagine what Five-Star General, Commander of the Allied Forces, NATO Commander, President of Columbia University, and, to top it off, President of the United States Dwight Eisenhower would make of Sarah Palin.
ReplyDeleteHe was one of five sons of a fiercely determined couple in rural Kansas, who trained them, taught them and gave them the confidence to succeed. One of his brothers was the President of Johns Hopkins University, one a noted scientist.
This, Sarah, is what it's all about. One doesn't need to be born into an elite culture, but one needs to strive to learn and improve and succeed. For those with brains and determination, the possibilities are always there. Just don't continue to believe that because Fairy Godmother John McCain tapped you with his magic wand, your good luck will continue. Without real work, you and your family will sink back into obscurity.
I'm a retired military officer and I remember seeing this years ago. I can't tell you how many enlisted soldiers and their families I saw that were on WIC, food stamps or other support because they needed it. I would ensure they were taken to Army Community Services to get help from a financial advisor to help them manage their money, but still they needed additional help. I couldn't help but notice how mostly Republicans talked about taking care of soldiers and making ours the best military. Unfortunately, to them that means supporting the defense contractors and making them rich rather than giving soldiers better pay. And yes, I know, they chose to enlist. But considering what that enlistment entails, what's wrong with a living wage?
ReplyDeleteThe soldier/sailor's pledge to uphold and defend the constitution should not be construed as willingly commiting his or her family to be impoverished--- in addition to the other personal risks of military service, which include separation from loved ones, additional emotional and physical stress, bodily harm, and possibly death.
DeleteIf we can't provide a them with a modicum of dignity in their personal lives, then I am ashamed to ask them to fulfill their duties to their country that they undertake with their swearing in to the armed services. I'm not speaking of fancy parades and talk of patriotism and flag-waving. I'm personally just as weary of those fake patriots who are cashing in on war industry as I am the fake christianists, none of whom seem to ever have loved ones who are cannon fodder; Neither do they go into their closet to pray in private as Jesus told them to do. Instead, they pray as loud as they can on the busiest street corner and and constantly trumpet their own virtue, as though others wouldn't know their righteousness by observing their lives.
The propaganda that is used to seduce our young adults into sacrificing their bodies, minds, lives and the welfare of their families is a lie if we do not treat our responsibility to these young men and women as a serious commitment.
For one of the leading proponents for constant war that this country has had in generations ---John McCain--- to be unembarrassed to any degree by his inability to at least pretend that a briefing on an upcoming debate about a war... Senator McCain should resign, as should anyone else of any political stripe who considers such a serious matter to be a priority only if it enhances the odds for their political survival.
I don't recall anyone bringing up President Eisenhower's incredible speech prior to our invasion of Iraq. Would the Bush White House have considered him to be unpatriotic as they accused anyone who questioned their motives to be?
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
This was the beginning of our slide toward a dystopian society dedicated to never ending war that will feed the corporations making machines of war and the government that supports them with declarations of war, soldiers to fight those wars and money to continue the buying and selling of propaganda and killing machines.
ReplyDeleteNow you know one of the reasons the right is totally against birth control, abortion or sex ed. They need the bodies to toss into the meat grinder known as warfare.
DeleteDammit, I want that "Like" button, anon@6:51!
DeleteEisenhower's famed speech is especially meaningful as it was given a few days before he left office and JFK was sworn in. Ike saw what was coming.
ReplyDeleteNow, as the debate about Syria heats up, let's be clear and not forget what we just went through with Iraq. The war profiteers will use ANY excuse, any scare, any lie, any means to convince us that we need to engage. They show us photos of dead children -- who THEIR WEAPONS murdered-- and try to convince us that more destruction will prevent this!?!?!?!?!
The right wingers who always love war are now caught between a rock and a hard place.
They cannot possibly give assent to anything that this president asks for! Oh dear, their favorite game (WAR) versus their most demonized leader -- which way to go?? Of course these are false choices.
Only the war industry wins in a war. Everyone else loses.
While Eisenhower is one of the few Republicans I respect, I can't help but notice the irony in his speech as he was the one who sent the first combat troops to Vietnam in 1957.
ReplyDelete