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.

The Angry American Electorate

I am so glad that the election will bring the end to these silly, offensive, unfair, and just plain ornery political ads on TV and radio. Many say this is the worst it has ever been. Maybe so, because it feels like it, but in my brief foray into political history going back to Lincoln, there have always been nasty people who cannot stop themselves from hurtling invectives; the truth be damned.

America is angry. Not just the vocal Tea Partyers, but far more if the polls are correct. The people wanted immediate fixes to long-term problems, and the Democrats, mostly the President charged into the storm only to find that it was tougher than expected.

This election, it seems, is going to be near historic for Congressional seats lost to the party in power. The polls differ somewhat but it is clear that the GOP will claim at least the 39 seats it needs in the House. The Senate is debatable.

But I have to say that Republicans and Tea Partyers should tread lightly in their rejoicing what they might see as a win. The American people of all stripes are angry and it ain’t just at the Dems. They are smart enough to know that President Obama did not create all of this mess. He may just have underestimated what it would take to fix. Well heck, he DID underestimate, no doubt.

So I am cautiously hopeful for the future. Not that I will enjoy Republican domination (remember that power corrupts), but if this is about change, then let’s hope they use this change to move forward and not get stuck in constant partisan gridlock. Say a prayer for America.

The American Franchise - Get Out and Vote!

I cannot remember an election in my lifetime, especially a mid-term race, which was so overwhelming to the casual observer. Even if one did not watch television, the “signs, signs, everywhere signs” are worse than ubiquitous if that is possible.

The basic nastiness is not new, but the level of rancor seems at a new high (or low). Pollsters say that negativity works, but for me, a political ad that clearly is stretching for the truth turns me off to the sponsoring candidate.

All this pessimism has made some feel that it is not worth voting; that if there was a choice they would vote “None of the Above”, which they can actually do in Nevada and maybe other places.

Despite all that, the one franchise we have in this country is the opportunity to be heard though the ballot. Each vote does count, and this is how we get those folks to listen.

I am not urging a vote for any particular party or viewpoint; instead I want to urge every citizen to do a little research and not vote blindly, but to cast an educated ballot. The electorate is a powerful thing as I alluded to in a previous post on the book, “Obama Wars”. If you cannot make it to the polls on November 2 (or just don’t want to) stop by or write your municipal clerk for an absentee ballot. My wife and I did and have already cast our votes two weeks ago. The cash spent on attack ads this week is wasted on us. Our die is already cast.

Educating Rita, Along With Tyrone, Miguel, and Jing Wei

The force-out of Michelle Rhee from the Washington D.C. school system may turn out to be OK. Without debating her methods too much here, it was clear that she had begun some necessary tasks to upgrade the D.C school system.

As Chancellor, she fired teachers who were not performing to the highest level, but may have caught a few good ones in the purge. Regardless, she saw that something needed to be done with the U.S. education system and it could not be done in dribs and drabs; rather she saw the need to make wholesale changes to get the attention of not only the teachers (and their union), but to make parents take a look at the learning that their children were NOT getting.

Tests were terrible, the drop out rate was approaching the graduation rate, gangs are thriving, the buildings were crumbling, and the impact of all that would be felt many years out.

DCPS Chancellor Rhee has now set the tone so it is up to the new mayor, along with the new Chancellor to decide to keep up the pressure and moved toward excellence, or resume the status quo and let the education system continue to be an embarrassing national eyesore for the world to see and to comment on the eventual fall of the United States. We have already fallen too far in math and science, but let’s hope that the D.C. model can be finessed enough to be used across the country. Let’s hope that all Americans can see that education is the key – the great equalizer – that can propel us to the greatness and leadership we once knew. It is not too late.

"Obama Wars" - A Must-read for All Americans Who Want the Wars to End

Bob Woodward’s latest book, “Obama Wars”, was one of those books I could not put down. It read almost like a spy novel that I had to continue to turn pages to see what happened next. My Kindle got heavier as I read each night, falling eventually onto my chest or the bed as I struggled to stay awake.

As an amateur student of history I was fascinated by what Woodward learned about what was going on in the White House with the war planning for Iraq and then Afghanistan. I felt like I was in the same room with the “principals”: General Jones, Secretary of Defense Gates, Secretary of State Clinton, Leon Panetta, and a few others. The dialogue is both intriguing as well as surprisingly mundane.

I was shocked that I understood all that they were talking about, and it often reminded me of many discussions I have had with colleagues on what to do about the two wars in which the U.S. is engaged. The same issues and “what ifs” have likely been thrashed out in offices, dorm rooms, and living rooms across the country. It surprised me how often nothing gets settled in any discussion, even when the President declares it settled (think number of troops to send in to Afghanistan). It seemed like Woodward had a spy cam on the wall of the Situation Room in the West Wing to be able to report such detailed meetings (along with the constant rehashing).

Book reviews have stated that the book title does not just mean the military wars the President is managing. It is clear that there has been (and certainly continues to be) an occasional battle among the principals and “sub-principals” on how to conduct the nation’s business. Now that Chief of Staff Emanuel is gone, that may ease some, but there is still enough pettiness to go around so the internal war marches on.

I was struck (and somewhat disappointed) that these major players in the White House had no real clue about what the right plan of action was in the wars our military is fighting. Some think we are in a quagmire, ala Viet Nam. Some think that we can never win over the Afghan people enough to get them to take over their own country. No one feels that Karzai is playing it straight (if he even could) and that he is just an opportunist taking what he can bleed from the U.S. and coalition forces.

Finally, I was pleasantly surprised at how much the principals, including the President, were concerned about the will of the American people. Knowing that much of the public is tired of wars, they understand do not have carte blanche to do whatever they want. Even the President. Read the book – it is enlightening in a sort of scarily unenlightened way.

The Joy of TIVO

TIVO has become a verb as well as noun, as in “I am TIVOing the ‘Barefoot Contessa’.” No, I am not TIVOing her, but I do TIVO nearly every other thing my wife and I watch. We seldom watch live TV, and when we do, one of inevitably says, “Fast Forward!” when a commercial appears. We then both laugh and endure the creepy guy in the Allstate ad.

This fall with so many new shows debuting along with our favorites such as NCIS, Criminal Minds, CSI, and many others, I decided to get Season Passes for nearly every new show.

Now I am glad I did and a couple I started taping have already been cancelled so we no longer have to endure them. That would be “Lone Star” and “My Generation”. TIVO saved us lots of time.

We still found some duds mixed in with some promising new series. “Chase” we chased off our list almost before the pilot ended; the same with “The Good Guys” (god-awful stuff even if the lead is Tom Hanks’ son). I am hanging in with “Rubicon” (not new this fall, but still worth mentioning). My wife thinks it moves toooooo sloooow, and now that she mentions it I have noticed that the dialogue would create a script of about 3 ½ pages. Lots of dead air with people looking at each other. But the premise seems good so I will hang in for awhile longer.

Back to the fall shows. Best so far is “Blue Bloods”. The Tom Selleck vehicle where he plays the NYC Police Commissioner/Chief with nearly all of his kids in law enforcement is entertaining. It works so far with nice, tight writing.

We are on the fence with “The Defenders” (Jim Belushi), but I want to give it a chance. Same with “Hawaii 5-0”. I grew up with the original and have to get that vision out of my head. This is totally different and so when the new McGarrett says “Book ‘em Dano”, it seems like a joke.

“Boardwalk Empire” (HBO) is a great period piece, a little slow, but fast enough to keep you hooked. Steve Buscemi, usually a character actor, carries the lead well.

Last, for now, is “Undercovers”. We thought it had promise with J.J. Abrams in the credits but it is a little too cute and too predictable. Maybe it will improve but it has been already banished from our TIVO list. However, our track record for picking winners is a little sketchy. Guess who never wanted to watch a show called “The Sopranos”?

Where is the Outrage Now?

It sure is getting harder these days to espouse conservative views. Although an Independent, I have to say I lean to the conservative side on occasion. Yet I would not want to be allied with the likes Carl Paladino, Republican candidate for NY governor. Nor would I care to associate with Christine O’Donnell, she of the witchcraft and evolution fame. The list of borderline radicals (I am being nice) is growing and the polls are showing they might have a chance at winning.

Where is the outrage from Rush and Glenn at these foibles and missteps taken by these tea drinking candidates (I wonder if it is tea or electric Kool-Aid?). If these were new Dem candidates with stories of witchcraft, inflated resumes, and questionable spending of campaign funds, they would be all over it like flies on a corpse. Their shows would be pounding and pounding at these indiscretions until someone would yell, “Uncle!”

Instead, they are apologists for these lame-brained late-to-the party Warholians getting their 15 minutes. If the polls are correct, and sometimes they are, then even the electorate must be so dissatisfied with the status quo that they are willing to overlook the warts, and maybe even the moral shortcomings. I just can’t quite get there. We have enough less-than- wholesome members of congress and other elected officials that I would not want to add to that pile. Unfortunately, I think we are headed that way. We need some Divine guidance, and quick.

Teach Your Children Well,… and Feed Them on Your Dreams (CSN&Y)

Education in the U.S. is beginning to move up in the priority list. With the “Race to the Top” funding for certain states, the much-acclaimed documentary, Waiting for “Superman” out this week, and numerous reports of our miserable drop out rate, education may be finally getting some attention from all of us.

Most people I know will say they received a decent education; that they had to work fairly hard for good grades, and had no major complaints. Today it is different. Students are different with different distractions and goals. Teachers are overworked in many cases, and that is only getting worse with the drastic cuts in education as a result of the Great Recession.

The sad part is that Education, from pre-school on, is really is the great equalizer. It may not make everyone as equal as others, but it surely will open more doors from high school graduates than for high school dropouts. Teachers take the hit, sometime deservedly, for the bad showing and the unions need to back off from protecting even the bad teachers.

But even more fundamental are the parents. Or parent, singular, in many cases. If parents do not value school by ensuring their children’s attendance, creating an environment conductive to homework, and an unwavering commitment to getting their child to that stage to walk across, then even the best teachers are severely handicapped. Short of taking on the role of individual mentors for those kids whose parents have essentially “checked out”, the kids will be lost. And so will the children of the children, and on and on.

Parents are often intimidated by the school, maybe even by the homework, but they can still make sure their kids respect the school and its teachers, set aside study time and take away the electronics, and keep in touch with the school in some way. It really is the key.

Parents who are in contact with the teachers as educational partners will serve as a force multiplier for the learning their kids need. Parents who send their kids off to school thinking it is the school’s responsibility to babysit and teach their children well will reap very little. Kids learn by example. Good modeling sets the tone. Parents really do not need to know how to do the algebra problem, or know the capital of Sri Lanka. They just need to encourage the child to study deeper, and ask for help from those who are just waiting to give it.

Finally (for now), kids must also be taught to value education and not do just enough to get by. The real world WILL demand a basic knowledge of algebra and will require that we pay attention to geography. Adults will need to have some basic knowledge of history to know what has been tried, what worked, and more important, what didn’t. Kids need to be welcomed into schools, fed nutritious food if need be, and made to feel challenged each day. “Good enough” is not good enough. The U.S. is not even in the top 15 of developed nations for rankings in math and science. That cannot stand any longer.

Visiting Our Navy Grandson in Virginia, With a Trip Back in Time

The history of our country is so rich in so many ways. Although we have only been a country of our own since declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776, the colonization began around 1607 in what became Jamestown Settlement in Virginia. Later the colonial capital would be moved to Williamsburg in 1699.

Eventually the American Revolution would be fought for years in many of the original colonies, but the historical end of the war for independence was at Yorktown, when British General Cornwallis surrendered his army to General Washington in 1781.

All of these three sites are within miles of each other in beautiful Virginia. Each is worth seeing, for all the history that we learned as children will really come alive. The story of Pocahontas, John Smith, and Captain Newport are all portrayed in Jamestown within the boundaries of the old fort. Yorktown has preserved the battlefield where our new army found a way to make Cornwallis give up.

Williamsburg is, perhaps, the gem of the area with many of the original buildings preserved and some reconstructed as they were in colonial times. It is a vivid piece of history for any proud American to walk in the same paths and roads as Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and many more patriots.

Our trip there was mainly accidental, meaning that our real reason for visiting the area was to visit our grandson, Josh, who will be soon ending his service in the U.S. Navy. We made the trip to see Josh and for him to show us around the Norfolk and Little Creek area which is his home port.

In his nearly four years of serving our country, he and his shipmates aboard the U.S.S. Fort McHenry have sailed to Spain, Portugal, Africa, and of course, the Middle East. They did some pirate patrol off Somalia, and won some hearts and minds when they were sent to assist in Haiti after the tragic earthquake. “Join the Navy and see the world,” was the saying years ago, but for many sailors it is still true. Josh will have great memories, some a little harsher than others, but he will remember that his mission was to help others and protect our nation. We could not be prouder.

With his ship in dry dock for refitting, Josh took us on a cruise on the Elizabeth River to see his ship out of the water, but also to see the ships of the fleet in port at Norfolk. Better yet, he got us in the Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world, where we saw an entire city within its boundaries. Most impressive were the ships of all sizes and shapes. We saw the U.S.S. Bataan, as well as the U.S.S. Cole. The highlights, of course, were the two aircraft carriers in port. The first nuclear carrier, the U.S.S. Enterprise (the “Big E”) was impressive for its size. Next to it sat the newest carrier in the fleet, the U.S.S. George H.W. Bush. Seeing such awesome power close up is an experience.

Josh was brave enough to let us see the apartment in Virginia Beach he shares with three other sailors, Shawn, T.J., and soon to be back from a tour, Dale. A little Spartan, but neat enough for a grandparent visit, for sure.

This area of Virginia holds many treasures but the best, for us, was our grandson. But then we are a mite prejudiced.

The Problem With Life is That it is So Daily

Sometimes life gets in the way of things you want to do. Like writing a blog. Once I clear my To-Do list from many of the mundane tasks like “Pay bills”, “Change furnace filter”, and “Look up Immanuel Kant on Wikipedia”, I find I have no energy to be creative.

So I sit reading the stack of newspapers from our last vacation (I must read them all), and the four TIME magazines whose news is now old. Then I decide to empty the dishwasher and start a grocery list. All important daily chores, but these sun-blocking clouds keep me from shining as an erudite blog writer. What to do, what to do?

I haven’t answered that yet but wanted my many blog readers to know that I am trying to keep up. My To-Do list does include many blog topics so material is not an issue. Time is really not an issue either (the issues of TIME are, however); it is more a matter of priority. I will try to do better. Now I have to file some papers and check the lint filter.

Koran Burning: What Next to Help the Cause?

You have to question the motives of many people who seek to incite others. A minister who calls himself a Christian, Terry Jones, is now planning to hold a public burning of the Koran, the Muslim holy book on September 11.

The commander in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus, has had to speak out at such actions as not just unhelpful but now potentially dangerous. We are at war with radical Islamists who need little or no excuse for their atrocities in the name of Allah. They have bastardized a legitimate religion by their actions and now some in our country will do the same to their own religion that purportedly emphasizes tolerance and forgiveness.

It is one thing to condemn the actions of the radicals, in fact more should be done by the defenders of the true Islamic faith, but it is another in incite the crazies again. Why would anyone risk putting our troops in further peril; why would any sane person intentionally shake the wasps nest? That they have the “right” to do these insanities is not in dispute, but to take an action that any reasonable person could see is done out of pure spite without regard to the consequences to others, is irresponsible and reprehensible. As Martin Luther King, jr. once said, “Hate begets hate, violence begets violence…”

The Christian loonies complain about the Muslim loonies who bomb and kill, yet they cannot see that their actions can have the same effect. Our only hope is that either someone stops their lunatic behavior, or those who could be offended will consider the source and chose not to be.

We can only hope.

Smoking Guns Might Be Cheaper!

I used to be a smoker. Two packs a day. I could not afford to smoke today. I don’t see how anyone can. Even at $5 a pack for the cheapies, my bill would be over $300 a month. That’s enough to cover my cable, electric, gas, water, and newspaper bills.

Paradoxically, it is the poorer folk who have higher rates of smoking. They truly cannot afford to smoke yet do so in too high numbers. Education seems to help. Those with a higher education seem to smoke far less, even though they might better be able to afford it.

Beyond the cost are the very real health risks. I am not a rabid ex-smoker on a mission to eradicate the filthy weed from the earth. Mostly my only reaction to being near someone else’s smoke is to screw up my face into a pained expression. Sometimes I will cough, and sometimes it is for real.

Reports keep coming out on second-hand smoke and with each one, a more ominous fate for those forced to inhale noxious things. At first, it was only mildly detrimental to the non-smoker’s health. Today, the findings show it to be far worse.

All of this is reflected in the non-smoking policies and laws that are in greater abundance. Most mid to upscale hotels no longer allow smoking in any rooms. Government buildings are off limits, and some laws push the inveterate smokers away from the entrances so employees and visitors do not have to run the smoky gamut anymore.

The smell is bad enough; the health risks notwithstanding. Get near a smoker for any time at all, and your clothing is tainted for the day. No “I-can-wear-this-another-day” shirts after that.

I have seen, among reasonably sophisticated people who smoke, a respect for the non-smoker. Many smokers will not even smoke in their own houses, knowing that the stench lingers in the carpeting and upholstery. Most smokers will not ask if you mind if they smoke anymore, anticipating the answer. I cringe at my discourtesy to others when I smoked. I often did ask if I could smoke in people’s homes, even when I knew no one smoked in the house. They would scramble to find an ashtray or a jar lid I could use. Such rudeness on my part. I even smoked in the grocery aisles, not denying myself that hit of nicotine even for a few minutes. Today, such tactlessness is gone.

I quit smoking on April 15, 1982 and have NEVER gone back. I won’t even tempt myself with an “It’s a boy/girl!” cigar, or take a “hit” off of a friend’s cigarette. I quit cold turkey (I know, yay for me!) and I wish others would try it. But we are all different so if Nicorette or Chantix works, then I wouldn’t knock it. But anecdotally, I see those methods fail frequently.

I believe cigarettes’ days are numbered. Increasing taxes, higher prices, less social acceptance, and more restrictive laws will eventually lower the demand in the U.S. I think that would be a good thing. Anyone got a Twinkie?

Ask What You Can Do for Your Country...

The economy is tanking, or at least it is not moving very fast to the positive side. The vicious circle of no jobs, therefore no money, therefore no spending, therefore no hiring is continuing apace.

Yet there are about 90% of us who do have jobs, or don’t have jobs by choice as in retired (or fabulously wealthy). So what can we, who are in that 90% do to help our country along with our fellow countrymen (and women)? Isn’t it obvious?

Spend money! There are reports of a pent-up demand for all sorts of consumer goods, but we who have the gold are now saving more. I suppose that is a good thing except that in today’s world, it looks like hoarding.

I’ll go even further out on this fragile limb and suggest that we buy locally and buy products produced in the U.S.A. Do we really want or need to support China more than we already are? China and India have a growth rate much higher than ours and the trade imbalance is striking. How about buying an American car instead of the “cooler” imports. Unless you really need a Maybach, most American cars are now built well enough for our use, and are backed up by liberal warranties. Detroit finally got the message.

We may have to pay more for clothes and other goods made in the U.S. but the effect is great when done in large numbers. Spend just a little more (sometimes) and help out your neighbor. If we all did a few things like buying what we have been wanting for some time, buying goods from our own country, and encouraging our friends and relatives to do the same, the consumer numbers would tick up, causing businesses to produce more, causing more hiring, then causing more spending from those new paychecks. See? It can all work out if we all do just a little.

I have now convinced myself to buy that new car now.

Katrina Lessons: Planning and More Planning

Watching the 5th anniversary news shows on Hurricane Katrina and its devastation reminded me of how quickly we forget. Our daily lives get in the way of keeping such a tragedy at the forefront. The pictures were even more shocking today, watching what happened at the Super Dome and on rooftops and on bridges. Or I should say, what didn’t happen.

I heard more than one commentator say something like, “if we can get aid to Haiti and to Pakistan and to a number of other foreign countries within days, if not hours, than how could what happened in New Orleans have occurred?” Where were the airlifted food and water drops? Why did it take four days to get troops in place?

Never mind the poor and inadequate pre-planning that should have been done by the city, the state, and the feds. We can’t change that now but we sure can change the planning for such an emergency response when a disaster strikes again as it surely will.

The government can maintain stockpiles of water and MREs all over the country. By rotating the stock in the normal course of daily use, there will always be a supply in warehouses around our many military bases. Contracts with bottled water makers, food purveyors, and other necessities can be in place for a quick response using trucks or a few spare Air Force C-5s which we have all over the country. If we can deploy a “surge” to the Middle East, how about the same for the Midwest, or the southeast…you get the picture.

Finally, we have to train our citizens to have a plan of their own, especially when they live in an area where natural disasters occur. Families should have contact plans, phone trees, meeting sites, and the like in place before they are needed. It was said that even with the evacuation order in New Orleans (given a little late), many people did not have the means to move out of the way. Maybe true with elderly or the disabled, but in the case of Katrina, there was enough time to walk north far enough to avoid the flooding before the levees failed. To heck with your property, lives are far more precious and finding a ride or walking would have been better than living in the Super Dome, or worse, drowning. The government can’t do it all, but it should have its own plan of action, plus should actively encourage all citizens to have plans and “go-bags” of their own.

What happened in New Orleans five years ago should never happen again. Unfortunately, it will.

Why is Congress' Approval Rating So Low?

For some reason Congress keeps rolling along, thinking that the have credibility to continue passing laws we don’t need or want, and spending money like we had it.

With only a 19% approval rating (I would like to test those 19% for dementia), Congress should have its collective tail between its collective legs and out on the hustings begging for forgiveness. But that won’t happen. They will continue with their collective arrogance and hubris to spend money they really think is theirs, raising the deficit because they themselves won’t have to pay it.

A few of them don’t seem to know the rules the rest of us have to follow like reporting income, not using business (House) stationary for personal benefit, and so much more. They can’t even follow the U.S. Constitution to get a bill passed. The Senate passed the bill to increase border patrol agents and increase border security. Then the House was called back from recess to pass the bill, which would then go to the President. Only one thing wrong. It was a spending bill which, by law, has to originate in the House.

So then the Senate had to be called back, unless most agreed (including Republicans) that they could do a voice vote over the phone or some such workaround. Thanks to a few bipartisan Senators, the bill was passed although not in the usual way.

How can they and their staff not know something about spending bills that we all learned in fifth grade?

But you know what? Nothing will change; or rather not much will change. We, the citizens, rant and complain and rail against both sides and even incumbents. But when we march into the ballot box in November, we will do what we almost always do and vote for our incumbents. Somehow, although we hate Congress, we seem to think our own guys and gals serving us directly are usually all right. It’s must be those from the other states who are bad. Heaven help us. We are starting to see “The Rise and Fall of the American Empire” and not enough of us seem to care.

Counter-insurgency Seldom Works: A Long Costly Slog

As the American people become increasing tired of the war in Afghanistan, the military and the administration keep looking for victories that will show that the war is winnable. Fewer people believe that everyday.

Most wars of history involve “traditional” methods taught in military academies, where a sort of chess game was played between the sides. In Afghanistan, there is no clear enemy and one that certainly does not subscribe to the “rules of war.” The insurgency continues on with the U.S. and (dwindling) allies playing a sort of “Whack-a-Mole” but never getting to the core.

Guerilla warfare is not new, but it is the lesser method that is often looked down upon by our trained generals. The problem, it seems, is that there are no rules, and therefore hard to define the “game.” In the U.S. Revolutionary War, the colonists essentially won by their guerrilla methods attacking from all sides, within towns, and often without a uniform to identify the combatants from the citizenry.

In the U.S. Civil War, the Confederate Quantrill’s Raiders were successful at terrorizing the people and the Union armies alike. In fact, in 1865 when General Lee could see that the cause was lost, he kept fighting for honor. He was approached by his soldiers who begged him to let them fight by insurgency and guerilla methods, which Lee knew to be their only chance for any success. He knew that insurgents would wreak terror and murder on the North with the Union army unable to quell the actions. Lee knew that he would not have to surrender and that the army as guerillas could keep the population terrorized for decades, and eventually the North would ask for a truce. This was the best and probably only chance the Confederacy had of any success in keeping their new country and with it, its slavery.

Yet Lee, a statesman at heart, also knew he could not put his country (the U.S.A., not just the C.S.A) through this prolonged nightmare of unending battle. He chose to say no to those who wanted to mix with the population and fight in the streets. He did not want to have the country go through that pain.

Today we have a similar situation in Afghanistan. The insurgents will continue to terrorize and mix with the population to plant bombs, murder civilians, execute aid workers, and the U.S. with all its might cannot whack the last mole. Lee was right in thinking that the Union would eventually declare a truce and stop the war, especially after Lincoln was gone. Today, the same thing is starting to happen. Public support is fading and successes are few. Afghanistan does not want our help, cannot form a government that works, and fails to even police themselves. While fighting insurgents we are desperately training Afghans to take over and they are not up to the job. It will not work. We must preserve what treasure we have left, and certainly spill no more blood thinking that we are fighting the ghost of al-Qaeda. No one seems to have a better idea.

Another Peevity: Hey Hey Ho Ho Has Got to Go!

The protests of today will never match those of the 60s and the Viet Nam War era. Today's marches are tame, often lame, and the lamest always resort to the banal chant that goes something like, "Hey Hey, Ho Ho, this (insert the Evil du jour) has got to go,'' and then it is incessantly repeated by seemingly intelligent beings.

I wonder about that. Most protests require some thought and at least a little dedication to the "HH, HH" cause at hand. Why can't someone come up with a chant, rant, or polemic that is more creative and expressive? I suppose that if something "has to go", the chant has to rhyme with "go". So how about "bobo", or "momo". Even better and often more relevant would be "dodo".

I fear this will remain a peeve of mine as this time-honored ditty will rear it monotonous head every time someone wants to protest for a cause. So I say, "Ho Ho, Hey Hey, this old drivel is bound to stay."

A Mosque or a Mosquerade? Let's Dig Deeper

My far right friends are going to have a fit. Maybe even a few of the right of center moderates will “tsk, tsk”. But for me, the U.S. Constitution comes first.

The new proposed Mosque-Islamic Cultural Center seems to be on the fast track for approval in New York City. Just two blocks from “Ground Zero”, it has raised an absolute firestorm among those who feel it is a slap in the face to the 9/11 heroes. Apparently it is the location, location, location that creates the uproar although if it were 10 blocks away, or 1.75 miles, or wherever in Manhattan, I think the issue would remain.

However, considering only the issue of whether a religious group has the right to buy a building for sale, demolish it and rebuild a new building according to local building codes, and have a place to practice their religion, there can be no argument. We cannot let fear- and other mongering to allow us to curb anyone’s legitimate rights under the Constitution.

But now the BIG “however”. If it is found beyond a reasonable doubt that the money being raised to build this edifice comes from radical Islamic terrorist supporters, or if there is found to be any kind of radical tie to any Mosque supporters or the Imam, then all bets are off.

Anyone with even the most oblique ties to those considered radical, or anyone who has declared or supported a jihad against the U.S. and its citizens, should not be allowed to build a monument to the most radical and twisted form of Islam. We have been acculturated since 9/11 to look askance at anything related to the Islamic beliefs, forgetting that Islam has always been one of the three major religions of the world. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are all descended from Abraham.

People have perverted Christianity and Judaism before as well; we need to watch for the radicals of any faith. Nevertheless, if this Islamic cultural center is what it is purported to be, who knows, we might all learn something about tolerance. I’ll be watching.

The Government Wants To Be Our Nanny

Check this out. Wisconsin is debating how to combat obesity, a right honorable goal. They are getting serious about changing zoning laws to limit the number of fast-food businesses in certain areas, ESPECIALLY in poor areas.

Do they think that poor people are dumb; that they cannot make their own choices? Do we have to legislate where they can buy the food they might like? Will KFC now be miles away causing the poor to waste more gas to get what they want. Where is the freedom of choice? And why pick on

poor folks. If it is so good for them, how about the rest of us fatties? I too have a problem seeing a McDonald's across from a Burger King, next to a Pizza Hut, kitty-corner from a Wendy's. But for me it is problem of choice. Not which food, but which restaurant has the best deals that day. Can't beat that dollar menu. Oh, I'll bet they want to do away with that too so the poor people can't take the few dollars they have a get a whole meal.

This is government regulation gone awry. I have a right to my Angus burgers, and so do the poor. This is blatant discrimination. Eaters of the world, unite!