From the accompanying press release (which I got late yesterday, hence the disconnect in verbiage):
"Today the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee just released a short video highlighting the impact of two decades of defense cuts. It takes a brief, critical look at how our military has atrophied, and how this increases the stress on our warfighters."
"Today the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee just released a short video highlighting the impact of two decades of defense cuts. It takes a brief, critical look at how our military has atrophied, and how this increases the stress on our warfighters."
The USAR tried to get my son to accept a commission, but he told them to pound sand. He got out in March 2007 and hasn't looked back. A close friend in his former unit did accept the proffered commission and, from what my son has told me, seems to be regretting having done so.
I reget not being medically able to complete flight school, but looking at the military since '92, I'm glad I wasn't in.
The military is there to provide for the common defense. It's a nice offshoot that because of the resources the military has it is able to help out in disasters but that is not it's primary mission. I'm glad that some family in Haiti is safe because of some military help but to be frank if the military can't help them and still provide an effective force to protect me and my family that family in Haiti will just have to go it alone.
The argument has never been 'guns V butter' the federal government is not mandated to provide butter but it is mandated to provide for the common defense. When looking to cut the overall budget we have to look at what the Constitution says the government should be doing. Anything that isn't on the short list should be cut.
It isn't easy for me to say that, I'm on SSI because of a bad hip. It's great to get a check to help out with the bills and such but I would survive if it went away. I've paid into Social Security since high school and I don't feel I'm unreasonable to take a benefit I paid for these past forty some odd years. However, if in order to get our house in order I have to take a cut I'm willing. I might b*tch and moan but I understand the need.
What torques me off, however, is that our political class would rather snipe at each other instead of getting down to business and trying to solve the problem. It's a problem with both major parties, not just one. I get really tired of being accused of being a Republican. I'm not but right now I can't see voting for a Democrat, at least at the state and national level. I vote for many local Democrats but around here a Democrat can be conservative, as strange as that seems.
I was of a similar nature until the last few years. Unfortunately The last real "Southern Democrat" I have seen was Zell Miller, and I have not seen another one since. So I've drifted more and more right.
Shame really. A lot of them with that now dubious title did a lot of good.
"Fiscal responsibility is unbelievable in the face of massive new spending promises. A foreign policy based on the strength of 'allies' like France is unacceptable …A strong national defense policy is just not believable coming from a candidate who built a career as an anti-war veteran, an anti-military candidate and an anti-action senator. …When will national Democrats sober up and admit that that dog won't hunt? Secular socialism, heavy taxes, big spending, weak defense, limitless lawsuits and heavy regulation – that pack of beagles hasn't caught a rabbit in the South or Midwest in years"