What if our next president...
...actually asks the citizens of the USA to make a sacrifice for the war effort?
Is that possible anymore, or are we too selfish? Or is this a moot question?
There are plenty (candidates and non-candidates) who love to criticize the Bush Administration for its handling of the war (myself included).
But I've yet to hear somebody suggest that to make this war go right, we're going to have to sacrifice a lot....not just in terms of dead and injured boys, but also in terms of personal sacrifice across the nation. That seems like a weird thing to say, but from where I'm sitting it looks like we as a nation are much more comfortable sacrificing 'a few boys' than we are sacrificing a little of our lifestyle.
Then again, maybe we're rich enough not to have to sacrifice much of our lifestyle. I don't know. I heard the other day that the war effort during WW2 was 35% of our gross domestic product and that despite the fact that Iraq will be our costliest war ever, it is only about 2-3% of our gross domestic product. We are wealthier, now.
If that's the case, then how the hell is it that we're unable to care adequately for our returning injured soldiers? Something's not adding up. If we can afford this war and our lifestyle, then we should be able to provide IMMEDIATE, top-notch care for our returning troops without making across-the-board sacrifices. We're not providing good care for our returning soldiers, and we certainly aren't making sacrifices.
OK, this is a kind of inarticulate rant on my part. Mostly I'm pissed off about the treatment the returning soldiers are (not) getting. Secondarily, I'm pissed off that there isn't a politician out there who is willing to bring the war home so that we all have to own it.
Comments appreciated.
Is that possible anymore, or are we too selfish? Or is this a moot question?
There are plenty (candidates and non-candidates) who love to criticize the Bush Administration for its handling of the war (myself included).
But I've yet to hear somebody suggest that to make this war go right, we're going to have to sacrifice a lot....not just in terms of dead and injured boys, but also in terms of personal sacrifice across the nation. That seems like a weird thing to say, but from where I'm sitting it looks like we as a nation are much more comfortable sacrificing 'a few boys' than we are sacrificing a little of our lifestyle.
Then again, maybe we're rich enough not to have to sacrifice much of our lifestyle. I don't know. I heard the other day that the war effort during WW2 was 35% of our gross domestic product and that despite the fact that Iraq will be our costliest war ever, it is only about 2-3% of our gross domestic product. We are wealthier, now.
If that's the case, then how the hell is it that we're unable to care adequately for our returning injured soldiers? Something's not adding up. If we can afford this war and our lifestyle, then we should be able to provide IMMEDIATE, top-notch care for our returning troops without making across-the-board sacrifices. We're not providing good care for our returning soldiers, and we certainly aren't making sacrifices.
OK, this is a kind of inarticulate rant on my part. Mostly I'm pissed off about the treatment the returning soldiers are (not) getting. Secondarily, I'm pissed off that there isn't a politician out there who is willing to bring the war home so that we all have to own it.
Comments appreciated.
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it would depend on what excatly he'd be asking us to give up.
gas would be a no no
guns would be stupid to ask for as well as ammo
money...well we're all about tapped right? tho i think we'd still dig to do our best to help.
i think if he'd ask us to give up stupid little things like diamonds, twinkies or illegal immigrants, he'd have a really good chance with that stuff.
I don't mean to be so cavalier about it sir. You have posed a very good legitimate question. However I think that most of our fellow citizens have become too dependant on the very things they'd ask us to do without, even if it were for only a short time like 30 days. Too many people are so dependant upon everything that to even ask them to ration their usage of something would set them off (just ask Sheryl Crow and her "one sheet of tp theory".)
I agree that the complacency of our politicians and those that are in a position to adequately care for our returning soldiers is at an all time high. There are so many people that hate this admin and the war that those of us who do support our military have our screaming voices drowned by their megaphones and p.a. systems. while we may out number them, we simply cannot get enough to people to congregate to overpower those who use their "victimisation" patches on their sleaves. The news hounds love their misery because it sells while those like us are mere footnotes on page 43 section G after the "classifieds: pet manure for sale" banner.0 -
Give me something worth sacrificing for and I will.
Let those kids of those political fat cats stand shoulder to shoulder with me and I will.
Let the corporations, defense contractors, and oil industry "sacrifice" and I will.
Otherwise those @$$holes in power can sacrifice them-f*****g-selves for all I care.
"The" war effort is nothing more than an excuse to get people killed and maimed so contractors can line their pockets and politicians can wax patriotic rather than doing their G-- damned jobs.0 -
Hmm. About a third of my paycheck disappears every week into the cavernous maw of the government. I pay local and federal taxes on the gas I use. I pay sales tax on everything I buy except food.
DO THEY WANT THE FILLINGS OUT OF MY MOUTH, TOO?
I'm sorry, but whether I like it or not, whether they ask or not, I'm gonna be sacrificing when the dollars I earn are worth less because of Bush's tax and spend ways. I'll be sacrificing when war in that region of the world causes gas and oil prices to sky rocket. I'll be sacrificing when illegals depress wages because they won't do anything about the problem.
So what would I do if the next POTUS asks me to sacrifice?
I'll tell them, "Kiss my a$$."0 -
i'll gladly sacrifice and be willin to kill every muslim i see as soon as they make it legal. and as a bonus politicians and illegals and anyone against or changing the constitution will be rounded up and deported to iraq[:D][;)][:(!] 0 -
The American career...gone....retirements...gone.....Social Security....gone...National Security...gone.
What exactly is there left to give?
Besides a regime change?0
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