Perspectives

A Body Politick tacking hard right

The news viewing public often hear the terms conservative, liberal, left, and right in regards to politics.  Often "ultra-" is added to the beginning of the term, but are these terms indicative of their definitions, or a bastardization of the meanings?  Do they have any modern value?

Traditionally speaking, a conservative was one who attempted to preserve the ways things were, while a liberal attempted to increase the liberties of the individual.  In more recent history, the "leftists" attempted to move governments towards an international communist government while the "right wing" attempted to increase the strength of a National government, particularly relative to international standing.  But is the political spectrum linear, or circular in nature?  Does a 3rd world tyrant (Iran) with goals of an international Caliphate (empire) and forces aligned against the "counter-revolutionaries" really meet the definitions of "ultra-conservative," or is their brand of international socialism and dictatorship, just a new name on an old concept, with a slight twist?

Is the underlying priniciple of the United States that we hold elections, or that Individual Citizens have God-given rights that no man, or government can take away?  If it is the former, do the "elections" held in Iran, in Egypt, and in Zimbabwe make those countries equally liberal?  And if it is the latter, is it a conservative or liberal ideal to preserve the Rights of Individuals from the government that derives from it?

What Wars Should We Fight?

Some would have us believe that there can never be a reason to go to war.  Others portend that only a war in which we have no National Interest is one in which we should engage.  And still others say we should only fight when we have an unparalled National Interest. 

Some say we should never be involved in a civil war.  Some say we should only be involved in peacekeeping, particularly in civil wars.  Some say we should only fight after we've been attacked.  And some say that attack must occur on our own soil before we should fight.  And then there's the age old philosophical question: If we knew then what we know now, should we have assassinated Hitler, preventing World War II, before he took power?

Is it really war, if we only send flying robots to bomb specific mud huts?  Or if only the enemy calls it war and we pretend it's just a common crime?  Is it war if the enemy has a flag, and are still only fighting to get a nation, or an empire?

The decision to go to war should not be made lightly.  It is a decision to have humans kill other humans, but that is sometimes the only way to save the lives of more humans.  The ability to win a war rests on one fundamental principal: breaking the enemy's will to fight.  There are many ways that may be accomplished, but to win a war, one must cause the enemy to choose to end the fight.

If you want Freedom & Prosperity, give it to your neighbor

I'm Sick & Tired of...

... the lies, of the political doublespeak, of the apathy.  I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. 

Two days ago, another Administration political appointee, claimed that slashing the DoD Budget was "driven by strategy."  Repeatedly, I hear the Administration claim that it is "supporting" Our Troops and Veterans by demanding that Congress to charge them for the health care resulting from their military service.  The Secretary of Defense spends Department of Defense money to the tune of $42,000/week so he can fly across the country for weekends off, while telling Troops they don't need inflation based pay raises.  The same politicians then blame the others for "sequestration" which they both implemented to force their own hands to deal with financial problems later, rather than sooner.

And then, on Memorial Day, the POTUS had the Tomb of the Unknown and Viet Nam War Memorial shut down from Veterans so he could give campaign speeches and have what amounts to campaign photos put on the White House GOVERNMENT web site.  In years past, this POTUS simply skipped out of town to party in his "home town" of corruption, Chicago, and enjoy private concerts, instead of fulfilling his responsibilities on Memorial Day.  So, when I saw he was going to fulfill his duties this year, I did not want to make it political.  But Memorial Day is NOT a photo op.  It should not involve politics.  It is not an opportunity for a campaign speech.  It is NOT a day for a guy that walked past a recruiting office and decided not to go in, to prove how great he is.  It is a day for those that still walk this earth to solemnly express our gratitude to those that gave their lives defending it.