Many Make the Supreme Sacrifice. What About the Rest of Us?

On a shadow box shelf in our guest bathroom is displayed a paper booklet from the U.S. Office of Price Administration, a World War II agency formed to help the war effort. It is my father’s War Ration Book containing stamps of apparently various values. These stamps were to be used for goods that were being rationed so that enough materiel was available to our troops. Gasoline, tires, meat, sugar, nylon, and silk were some of the many items subject to rationing. Even bicycles were on the list.

On the back of the ration stamp booklet was the following: IMPORTANT: When you have used your ration, salvage the TIN CANS, and WASTE FATS. They are needed to make munitions for our fighting men. Cooperate with your local Salvage Committee.

We ask our volunteer military to fight for us, and they know that there is a possibility that they may have to make the supreme sacrifice. They do so willingly. The current recession notwithstanding, we as U.S. citizens are asked to sacrifice little for this war effort. Instead of a tax increase or a temporary war surcharge, we cry for our taxes to be even lower. We do not need to sacrifice to buy sugar and meat anymore – production is apparently plentiful. Yet the real costs in billions of tax dollars are flowing into the war theatre using borrowing to fund the whole shebang. It is de rigueur to say that we are borrowing from China for our day-to-day expenses so we are financing our war with bonds sold to foreign investors. Not necessarily a bad thing in moderation, but lately we would be in a world of hurt should all those bonds be called.

Raising taxes is anathema to politicians no matter the need. But a war surcharge, with total transparency of the money raised and spent, might actually get widespread approval from the citizens. At least we could see where that money was going.

Of course, the cost of the currents wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are far less costly than WW II, when war costs were almost 40% of (then) GNP. Today, the war costs are about 1.2% (2008) of GDP, actually a minor number. Yet few Americans other than military families feel that they are doing anything directly to help with the war effort. Even those opposed to the wars are quick to say they still support our troops. So maybe we should all put a little of our money where our collective mouths are and support our country’s efforts at fighting terrorism abroad. It would be a lot less messy than collecting used bacon grease.

Attention Must Be Paid

Did anyone notice the latest mid-term campaign ads? Did anyone see what the issues were, besides the variety of nastiness used to impugn one another? We heard about health care, good and bad. We heard more about earmarks, the crushing deficit and national debt.

But did anyone hear a political ad mentioning, even in passing, that we are engaged in the draw down from one war in Iraq, and the ramping up of another war in Afghanistan? Did anyone mention the sacrifices that are being made by the men and woman in the Armed Services? We have dedicated volunteers who have joined a branch of the U.S. military who were not even mentioned in this very important election.

The cost of those wars has driven up the deficit sharply and will continue to do so for at least the next four years, if not more. No mention of the brave work our people in uniform do to keep the terrorists on the run.

Ben Stein, the noted columnist, said last week, using his often-used line, that Attention Must Be Paid to these increasingly hard slogs of war creating a huge money pit from which we may not be able to climb out of. He was appalled that no one mentioned the soldiers, marines, and others fighting for their lives. The pols were too busy thinking of winning, and then becoming a thorn in the sides of the other party; maybe even their own party, openly stating that they would not compromise to get anything done for the country.

Consent of the Governed

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed..."

Declaration of Independence, United States of America, 1776

Although most Americans are familiar with the first sentence above, fewer know the second as well. The mid-term election brings this “consent” to the fore, in keeping with our right to vote and our right to “vote them out”. In most mid-term elections, the party in power loses congressional seats, but the change in House seats in this election was historic.

The “governed” or most of them anyway, have decided that the losers no longer had their “consent.” And as much as one might be dismayed with the results, it is this cornerstone of our democracy that makes us great.

We stood (and still stand) to lose this greatness if our representatives cannot grasp the intention of the voters. No party gained or lost a mandate here. It was clear that the people were angry with both parties and just wanted to see them get something done.

It does seem, however, that fiscal conservatism was the “flavor of the day”. With the Wall Street Bailouts and other TARP programs, the expanding deficit, and unemployment, the people have spoken that the current road is leading to disaster.

The discerning voter should, however, be careful what they wish for. For instance, “repealing” Obamacare carries with it all of the good parts too. Letting banks fail probably would not have been too good for us. But it was never explained well and worse yet, there were no rules set for the beneficiaries of the taxpayer largesse. The banks and investment house continue to chug on giving raises and bonuses that make even good, staunch, free market Republicans blanch. There must be some controls because humans tend to look for the loopholes, in laws and in life, and without some curbs, rank larceny is inevitable.

So let’s hope that the Republicans truly feel that they must remain humble, and that the Democrats will temper their spending and Nanny-State ideals just tad. If so, there may be hope for the future with America holding onto and improving our greatness. No one can expect to have 100% of their beliefs forced on the rest, but a little give and take might get everyone at least “half a loaf,” which is said to be better than none.