One can only hold their tongue for so long. After considerable head shaking I finally said, enough is enough and want to express my personal views here.
I cannot believe that it has been at least 8 years since Congress has done much of anything except bicker about how the other side of the aisle is being unreasonable and that "they" are the cause of the problem which has resulted in little effective legislation moving through Congress.
Heaven forbid that Congress should be called back into session early, have to stay late, miss a paid vacation day or forgoe a raise during these "tough times" that our country has been experiencing.
Some would lay the blame on our current President (who I am no fan of) and others on the previous President. I seem to remember our currrent President stating that he would have no trouble bringing Congress together and get them working as a single body again. I am still waiting to see that one.
Syria has been in the news and on the minds of many for weeks now as we watched and listened to developments occurring over there. Our President drew a line in the sand, so to speak, regarding what actions we (the U.S.) would take should chemical weapons be used. Such weapons were used. The U.S. took no action. The UN sent people in to confirm that chemical weapons were used. The President decided to take his decision to take action before Congress before committing to any action against Syria. Oh wait......................Congress was on break and wouldn't be back in session until the following week.
Congress then agreed? that we could bomb Syria, but not the chemical weapon deposits, nor put boots on the ground. <----Seriously?? Don't you think that we have had many boots on the ground already gathering intel?!?! Yes I know, that is not the same as committing ground troops for a given length of time.
Now we wait on Russia to make their move. Syria had denied having chemical weapons, but if Russia gives them a reward, Syria will agree to turn over the chemical weapons that they don't have. I am getting dizzy from shaking my head.
I read today that Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is concerned that broad, across the board upcoming budget cuts plus sequestration cuts are going to make it very difficult to provide a variety of options for the President, militarily speaking.
"Whatever course of action our nation decides to take on Syria, I do know this: The maritime options are flexible and they are significant and they are swift and they are sovereign," Mabus said. "But unless we act to address the damage of continuing resolutions and sequestration, they are options which may be limited or just not available in the future."
Nice!! Congress can't make a decision, so our military is being limited when we are possibly on the brink of another military engagement in a Middle Eastern country or two or three!
So by all means Mr. President, we shall keep the pressure on Syria with our naval fleet sitting offshore, even if your Congress is whittling away at their ability to do so.
Ahhh but look how much money we are saving as we begin to pull out of Afghanistan. Funny thing here-the Afghanistan President wants us gone but also wants to charge us a fee for pulling our equipment and troops out of his country. Sorry guy, you can't have it all your way. If we leave Afghanistan, we take our $$$'s along also. BTW....this withdrawal is not a money saving affair, it costs big bucks to pull back, realigning our troops in the process so they are not put in greater jeopardy.
I live in a state where our state legislatures meet once every two years to set the budget, take care of any issues such as gay marriage, abortion and various other items.
"Because the House and Senate sit for only 80 days in odd-numbered years, the Legislative Council oversees legislative affairs in the interim periods, doing longer-term studies of issues, and drafting legislation for consideration of both houses at the next session." Wikipedia
Our legislators are not paid year-round, they all have other jobs that they take a break from to meet once every 2 years for 80 days. Yes we have a low population, so what? They come to work, keep their nose to the grindstone and get their job done. THEN they take a break and go back to their other jobs!
I have traveled out of the country various times over the past several years, and each time I land back in the United States, it is with a sense of relief. Why relief? Have you spent time in a 3rd world country where it is common place to see guards with guns outside the grocery stores, banks, hotels and lately having to travel with armed escorts? If your answer is yes, then you get it. Being able to drink water from the tap instead of bottled water, being able to speak your mind about pretty much anything on the street corner (threats not included) without fear of arrest, trusting your police enough to call them for help in an emergency, where bribes are not a way of life, where the average person has enough food and a job......that makes me appreciate being an American!!
Yes, the United States has many problems/faults but until you have traveled to other third world countries you have no clue have good of a life you have here!! No clue at all.
I am proud of our military and their unwavering commitment to their oath, to their fellow soldiers and to our country. They continue to serve in many small ways when back home and out of uniform. They are a big part of what is right about this country!! They have attitude and I like it!!
So my tirade is over. I am not a politically savy person, just a red-blooded American who is tired of listening to Congress moan, whine and being gone on a holiday, vacation or break.
To our U. S. Congressmen and women.......get your SHIT together and start doing your job!!
Stumble It!
