"We like war. We like war because we are good at it." - comedian George Carlin.
So I keep hearing fiery speeches from potential GOP presidential contenders that we need to deploy ground troops in the middle east in order to stop ISIL/ISIS. Me? I'm not convinced. I guess that doesn't make me a conservative or conservative enough. Which begs the question? What am I?
While ISIL/ISIS has perpetrated some horrible, disgusting and just plain evil acts against Christians and others, are those acts enough to warrant war?
Let's say for instance that we go to war against ISIL/ISIS. There will be flag waving chants of "USA! USA!". We will watch the war from our cozy living rooms and then flip the channel to the Food Network when we get tired of seeing bombs destroy huts. Our superior military might will crush the militants and extremists and we will surely cripple them and their network of terror. Then what? In all likelihood, we would need to establish an American foothold in the middle east, which constitutes more troops, bases and money, which means more borrowing. How long would we need to stay? 5 years? 10 years? 30? Are you prepared to pay for a US presence for generations to come?
It's time we focus our attention to the United States and our problems for a change, such as:
I lead off this post with a quote from George Carlin. Instead of the good 'ole USA being know as a country being good at war, how about we be known as a country who solves its own problems first before trying to police the world. For the record, I am in favor of arming the Kurds in the area to stop ISIL/ISIS as they have demonstrated the ability and wherewithal to fighting them. Please do not misunderstand me. I do believe in a strong defense and support any effort when we are attacked on our soil or against our interests overseas. But I am not willing to commit our sons and daughters to fighting a group of radicals on foreign lands.
Given this post, I am not sure what I am. Am I a true conservative? A libertarian? A true liberal? Maybe I am just a citizen of the US that is more concerned with the welfare of Americans within our borders.
Sorry for this post on a Saturday morning. I just can't take the rhetoric anymore from Washington on both sides.
So I keep hearing fiery speeches from potential GOP presidential contenders that we need to deploy ground troops in the middle east in order to stop ISIL/ISIS. Me? I'm not convinced. I guess that doesn't make me a conservative or conservative enough. Which begs the question? What am I?
While ISIL/ISIS has perpetrated some horrible, disgusting and just plain evil acts against Christians and others, are those acts enough to warrant war?
Let's say for instance that we go to war against ISIL/ISIS. There will be flag waving chants of "USA! USA!". We will watch the war from our cozy living rooms and then flip the channel to the Food Network when we get tired of seeing bombs destroy huts. Our superior military might will crush the militants and extremists and we will surely cripple them and their network of terror. Then what? In all likelihood, we would need to establish an American foothold in the middle east, which constitutes more troops, bases and money, which means more borrowing. How long would we need to stay? 5 years? 10 years? 30? Are you prepared to pay for a US presence for generations to come?
It's time we focus our attention to the United States and our problems for a change, such as:
- massive federal debt
- manufacturing leaving the country
- obtrusive government intrusion in our lives
- governments collection of data on it citizens
- helping people get off welfare by increasing their self esteem
- finding common ground on domestic issues
- reduction in taxes that snarls innovation and job creation
- refocus our attention to helping small businesses
I lead off this post with a quote from George Carlin. Instead of the good 'ole USA being know as a country being good at war, how about we be known as a country who solves its own problems first before trying to police the world. For the record, I am in favor of arming the Kurds in the area to stop ISIL/ISIS as they have demonstrated the ability and wherewithal to fighting them. Please do not misunderstand me. I do believe in a strong defense and support any effort when we are attacked on our soil or against our interests overseas. But I am not willing to commit our sons and daughters to fighting a group of radicals on foreign lands.
Given this post, I am not sure what I am. Am I a true conservative? A libertarian? A true liberal? Maybe I am just a citizen of the US that is more concerned with the welfare of Americans within our borders.
Sorry for this post on a Saturday morning. I just can't take the rhetoric anymore from Washington on both sides.