Doc Von Braune
Rookie
- May 15, 2010
- 2
- 4
- 1
Hello to All:
I am a retired Sgt. Major of 28 years and have pretty much seen it all on both sides of the political spectrum and have come to the conclusion that both are seriously flawed pretty much to the point of no return. This includes liberals and conservatives. Neither can work effectively in our current political and economic state. As a matter of fact, conservative and liberal policies have had their chances over the past 50 years or so, and both have failed miserably in so many ways. I am sure that I have your attention now and you are wondering how I came to this conclusion. I ask you to please keep in mind that I have served my country to the best of my ability pretty much most of my life in that my father was a veteran of 37 years of military service that included time WWII in Africa, Italy, UK, France, and Germany as a 17-19 year old teen. He also was in Korea and Japan, during the Korean Conflict. Lastly, he spent time in South Vietnam; the worst of which he spoke of. I have an older brother that retired from the Navy with 20 years of service. So when I speak of the military, I do so with respect and even more important, with full honesty.
With the election of President Obama, a lot of groups came out of the wood-work of which some are radically conservative as well as some fringe liberal groups. You ask me where I fit in. After 28 plus years of service to my country, I feel that I am capable of objectively studying both sides of the political realm and pick the good that both sides have to offer. I consider myself a very solid middle of the road with a very, very slight tilt to the left. Some say that if you are in the middle of road, you will be trampled by both sides. I disagree with the concept, and fully believe that if the middle ground is high enough, you can comfortably sit back and watch the two sides destroy each other.
There are accusations the Pres. Obama wants to turn this nation into a pure socialist type of government. This is a ridiculous in so many ways. Also, some groups consider Obama to be the reincarnation Hitler. This is about as far away from the truth as you can get in a 180 degree turn. Hitler was an extreme right wing dictator that hated left wing governments and their leaders with a passion. Socialism has existed in our country for many decades with both good and bad results such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and many more. These programs have helped far more people than any other government type of programs that includes tax cuts. I would guess that at least 75% or greater of tax paying citizens of this country love having tax cuts including myself. Do these help? That is the question that deserves that deserves close scrutiny. Both President Bush (W), and President Obama have attempted these of which each resulting with minimal short-term results.
Since NAFTA, along with the granting of China becoming a favored trade nation, jobs in the USA have packed up and moved to the greener pastures of China, India, Mexico and many others. The loss of jobs due to these policies is nothing less than astronomical. We have a problem that is much worse than many realize. In fact, we may have already past the point of no return with being able to correct this massive problem. I have an extensive background in the economics of free enterprise systems. On paper, this concept is nothing short of great. Unfortunately, our business world has abused our system for many years, resulting in what we now have. Neither the left, right, nor middle care too much for what we now have. The big question now, is what in the hell can we do about it?
If our leaders could come to a concession changing the way we operate, we might have a decent chance with coming up with a solution that both sides can agree on. OK, after a quick slap in the face, I realize that this would be unlikely at its best attempt to do so. With regard to the "Tea Party" concept, I think it has some merit, but its negatives far out way its positives. I would dare to guess that about 75% or greater of the people involved with this concept are those that consider themselves to be "true patriots", but not the type of a Thomas Jefferson or George Washington. Many in the Tea Party movement are those that prefer to have an arsenal of weapons and rations in order to be ready when the government falls and we are all left on our own. My prayers are that common sense will eventually rule the day for us all.
On a last note, we need to closely examine how we can get a handle on what our country does with the money that we invest in it via taxes. As I have stated earlier, my family including myself, have served our country to the best we now how it. The problem that I am referring to is the enormous amount of our tax dollars that keep our military machine purging onward. The percentage of the federal budge that goes towards the military is a whopping 38%!.....Yes, 38%. Some of you may say that it is all needed to fight our wars. I have talked extensively with friends that have retired or are still serving in the military. A Brigadier General, who is a close friend and is set to retire this coming August, has confided in me about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how this should come to a quick end ASAP. In discussion with some of my military friends that have and are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the opinion is that there never were any WMDs in Iraq as proposed by the Bush administration when we entered in "Iraqi Freedom". This war had absolutely nothing to do with 9-11-01. "W' wanted to finish what pops started in "Desert Storm". This war is absolutely unnecessary and has blown hole in our federal budget that we may never recover from until many years down the road. Also, the war in Afghanistan may wind up costing twice the cost of Iraqi Freedom. As much as most people hated Bill Clinton, you have to give him a tip of the hat in that his administration managed to put the federal budget in the black of which had not happened in many decades. If we could get a handle on defense spending, we could very well fund a national health insurance program. I think I just heard a pin drop with the silence I am is all around me now!
Just mention National Health Care, and you can start a war of words and unfortunately a war of guns and other devices of harm. Being in the military and now receiving my retirement benefits, I have been a member of the largest socialized program in the entire history of mankind. Yes, the military is the largest socialized program in the entire world. I see only minimal differences in what President Obama is proposing for are not fortunate enough to have any kind of health benefits. A friend of the family lost his job due to a company's downsizing and eventual relocation to Mexico. He had been with that company for 36 years. Not only did he lose his job, he had to pay $1200.00 per month for COBRA of which he could not afford. Kendell had been looking for a job going on 2 years and has since lost his home, his wife and other things that were precious to him. He sent out over 600 resumes and has interviewed for 59 jobs. The companies like him, but do not want to hire someone who is 61 years old. Kendell developed cancer of the Pancreas and died 6 months later and died an excruciating and lonely death. I have no doubt that there are thousands and possibly millions of Kendells out there of which some could have had their life saved if they had access to the kind of treatment that could give them a fighting chance to have their life saved.
Yes, the answer to solving some of our countries problems go much futher than tea parties and knee jerk conservative ideology along with bleeding heart liberal agenda. It will take a combination of common sense, compassion, and most important, non-biased honesty to make it happen. This country is all of ours; not just fringe elements of society on both the right and left.
Doc
I am a retired Sgt. Major of 28 years and have pretty much seen it all on both sides of the political spectrum and have come to the conclusion that both are seriously flawed pretty much to the point of no return. This includes liberals and conservatives. Neither can work effectively in our current political and economic state. As a matter of fact, conservative and liberal policies have had their chances over the past 50 years or so, and both have failed miserably in so many ways. I am sure that I have your attention now and you are wondering how I came to this conclusion. I ask you to please keep in mind that I have served my country to the best of my ability pretty much most of my life in that my father was a veteran of 37 years of military service that included time WWII in Africa, Italy, UK, France, and Germany as a 17-19 year old teen. He also was in Korea and Japan, during the Korean Conflict. Lastly, he spent time in South Vietnam; the worst of which he spoke of. I have an older brother that retired from the Navy with 20 years of service. So when I speak of the military, I do so with respect and even more important, with full honesty.
With the election of President Obama, a lot of groups came out of the wood-work of which some are radically conservative as well as some fringe liberal groups. You ask me where I fit in. After 28 plus years of service to my country, I feel that I am capable of objectively studying both sides of the political realm and pick the good that both sides have to offer. I consider myself a very solid middle of the road with a very, very slight tilt to the left. Some say that if you are in the middle of road, you will be trampled by both sides. I disagree with the concept, and fully believe that if the middle ground is high enough, you can comfortably sit back and watch the two sides destroy each other.
There are accusations the Pres. Obama wants to turn this nation into a pure socialist type of government. This is a ridiculous in so many ways. Also, some groups consider Obama to be the reincarnation Hitler. This is about as far away from the truth as you can get in a 180 degree turn. Hitler was an extreme right wing dictator that hated left wing governments and their leaders with a passion. Socialism has existed in our country for many decades with both good and bad results such as Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security and many more. These programs have helped far more people than any other government type of programs that includes tax cuts. I would guess that at least 75% or greater of tax paying citizens of this country love having tax cuts including myself. Do these help? That is the question that deserves that deserves close scrutiny. Both President Bush (W), and President Obama have attempted these of which each resulting with minimal short-term results.
Since NAFTA, along with the granting of China becoming a favored trade nation, jobs in the USA have packed up and moved to the greener pastures of China, India, Mexico and many others. The loss of jobs due to these policies is nothing less than astronomical. We have a problem that is much worse than many realize. In fact, we may have already past the point of no return with being able to correct this massive problem. I have an extensive background in the economics of free enterprise systems. On paper, this concept is nothing short of great. Unfortunately, our business world has abused our system for many years, resulting in what we now have. Neither the left, right, nor middle care too much for what we now have. The big question now, is what in the hell can we do about it?
If our leaders could come to a concession changing the way we operate, we might have a decent chance with coming up with a solution that both sides can agree on. OK, after a quick slap in the face, I realize that this would be unlikely at its best attempt to do so. With regard to the "Tea Party" concept, I think it has some merit, but its negatives far out way its positives. I would dare to guess that about 75% or greater of the people involved with this concept are those that consider themselves to be "true patriots", but not the type of a Thomas Jefferson or George Washington. Many in the Tea Party movement are those that prefer to have an arsenal of weapons and rations in order to be ready when the government falls and we are all left on our own. My prayers are that common sense will eventually rule the day for us all.
On a last note, we need to closely examine how we can get a handle on what our country does with the money that we invest in it via taxes. As I have stated earlier, my family including myself, have served our country to the best we now how it. The problem that I am referring to is the enormous amount of our tax dollars that keep our military machine purging onward. The percentage of the federal budge that goes towards the military is a whopping 38%!.....Yes, 38%. Some of you may say that it is all needed to fight our wars. I have talked extensively with friends that have retired or are still serving in the military. A Brigadier General, who is a close friend and is set to retire this coming August, has confided in me about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how this should come to a quick end ASAP. In discussion with some of my military friends that have and are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the opinion is that there never were any WMDs in Iraq as proposed by the Bush administration when we entered in "Iraqi Freedom". This war had absolutely nothing to do with 9-11-01. "W' wanted to finish what pops started in "Desert Storm". This war is absolutely unnecessary and has blown hole in our federal budget that we may never recover from until many years down the road. Also, the war in Afghanistan may wind up costing twice the cost of Iraqi Freedom. As much as most people hated Bill Clinton, you have to give him a tip of the hat in that his administration managed to put the federal budget in the black of which had not happened in many decades. If we could get a handle on defense spending, we could very well fund a national health insurance program. I think I just heard a pin drop with the silence I am is all around me now!
Just mention National Health Care, and you can start a war of words and unfortunately a war of guns and other devices of harm. Being in the military and now receiving my retirement benefits, I have been a member of the largest socialized program in the entire history of mankind. Yes, the military is the largest socialized program in the entire world. I see only minimal differences in what President Obama is proposing for are not fortunate enough to have any kind of health benefits. A friend of the family lost his job due to a company's downsizing and eventual relocation to Mexico. He had been with that company for 36 years. Not only did he lose his job, he had to pay $1200.00 per month for COBRA of which he could not afford. Kendell had been looking for a job going on 2 years and has since lost his home, his wife and other things that were precious to him. He sent out over 600 resumes and has interviewed for 59 jobs. The companies like him, but do not want to hire someone who is 61 years old. Kendell developed cancer of the Pancreas and died 6 months later and died an excruciating and lonely death. I have no doubt that there are thousands and possibly millions of Kendells out there of which some could have had their life saved if they had access to the kind of treatment that could give them a fighting chance to have their life saved.
Yes, the answer to solving some of our countries problems go much futher than tea parties and knee jerk conservative ideology along with bleeding heart liberal agenda. It will take a combination of common sense, compassion, and most important, non-biased honesty to make it happen. This country is all of ours; not just fringe elements of society on both the right and left.
Doc
