tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post5573289690280328986..comments2023-11-05T02:37:34.348-05:00Comments on Yankees For Justice: Another Inconvenient TruthTodd Drewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03780724600781551020noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-11579692872424506302008-05-28T11:59:00.000-04:002008-05-28T11:59:00.000-04:00Danny,It looks like we are going to have to agree ...Danny,<BR/>It looks like we are going to have to agree to disagree on this. I believe that there would be fewer casualties if every US soldier was issued a Kevlar helmet. I also believe that properly designed and armored vehicles prevent casualties from roadside bombs.<BR/><BR/>Calling US soldiers the best equipped on the planet is like saying the US has the finest healthcare system on the planet. It all depends on your point of view.<BR/><BR/>I agree that wars are madness and completely unnecessary. The soldiers that are on patrol in Iraq and Afghanistan today had nothing to do with starting any of this, but they always have to pay the price.<BR/><BR/>Their safety is supposed to be our responsibility and it’s time we take a little.Todd Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03780724600781551020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-34245660969567347282008-05-28T10:39:00.000-04:002008-05-28T10:39:00.000-04:00Todd,Your argument for the draft is an interesting...Todd,<BR/>Your argument for the draft is an interesting one and well intentioned. I just don't believe that restricting liberties will prevent wars. Roosevelt enjoyed all of those powers you mentioned and then some and he sent 400,000 Americans to their deaths. <BR/><BR/>Also, no amount of increased spending on military equipment will prevent casualties. Don't we already outspend the rest of the world combined? I would imagine that U.S. soldiers are the best trained, best equipped on the planet. How many more dollars would be sufficient? War is utter madness. And almost always unnecessary. We should discontinue our policy of meddling around the world. We'd then have more than enough money to care for injured soldiers as we should.Dannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09593245871114767080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-28376166814233514242008-05-27T19:41:00.001-04:002008-05-27T19:41:00.001-04:00Danny, your thoughts might be good in theory, but...Danny, your thoughts might be good in theory, but the soldiers getting hit with the roadside bombs don’t have the luxury of sitting in front of a computer working on their theories. That’s what the limousine liberals don’t get sometimes.JoeyBoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07927084491860796630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-68413227665153483062008-05-27T19:41:00.000-04:002008-05-27T19:41:00.000-04:00Thanks for saying it. I posted to similar effect h...Thanks for saying it. I posted to similar effect <A HREF="http://www.glamourbrain.com/2008/05/you-must-remember-this.html" REL="nofollow">here</A>.Glamourbrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519651913363290687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-84592174199568890042008-05-27T19:20:00.000-04:002008-05-27T19:20:00.000-04:00Danny,I appreciate your opinions, but the draft al...Danny,<BR/>I appreciate your opinions, but the draft already exists. In too many neighborhoods there are no good jobs so joining the military is about the only option for a kid getting out of high school. This draft is based on economics so anyone whose family can afford to send them to college or has better connections/options doesn’t have to go.<BR/><BR/>Rich people stand on both side of this issue while US soldiers die every day because they are not properly equipped and protected. They lose arms and legs and come home to find substandard medical care and no options to live a decent life.<BR/><BR/>The things I talk about (the draft, higher taxes, rationing and travel bans) would impact most people in this country so everyone would have to think before supporting wars.<BR/><BR/>This isn’t about promoting wars. There are wars. Whether you support it or are against it, the soldiers are our responsibility. Treating them the way we do is a crime.Todd Drewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03780724600781551020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-26916539614641226222008-05-27T17:32:00.000-04:002008-05-27T17:32:00.000-04:00Todd, I am in total agreement with you regarding t...Todd, I am in total agreement with you regarding the evil of the neo-cons' war. However, your solutions I find horrifying.<BR/><BR/>First, a draft is slavery. Forcing an individual to kill against his or her will is not consistent with the basic principles of liberty.<BR/><BR/>Second, enhancing the power of the state in or out of war time only enhances the problem. We are in Iraq, and were in Vietnam and Korea because the power of the executive branch has far exceeded Constitutional limits. And we also have a legislative branch that holds so little regard for the Constitution that it can simply vote away its war making responsibility. It is precisely because of the unconstitutional power of the government that we go to war, occupy countries, assassinate leaders for imperial and corporate reasons. <BR/><BR/>Third, powers grabbed by the state during war time are rarely returned. <BR/><BR/>I do not think we should hold the actions of our government during WWII and Vietnam (two unnecessary wars) up as anything to emulate. When the government has the ability to force the individual to fall in line is precisely when wars are most likely. The most notorious conquerers - Hitler, Stalin, Hirohito - were those with the most power over the individual.<BR/><BR/>Tripling Federal taxes? That would only give the government three times the war making resources. What we should be doing is cutting off funding. But, of course, even the supposed anti-war politicians don't have the guts for that. <BR/><BR/>As I see it, liberty promotes peace. An unrestrained state promotes war.Dannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09593245871114767080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-22837548983742117562008-05-27T15:46:00.000-04:002008-05-27T15:46:00.000-04:00They say blogs are great for debate, but there is ...They say blogs are great for debate, but there is no debate here. You hit the nail on the head.Oliviahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05953483241484486766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-82391351551421588222008-05-27T15:23:00.000-04:002008-05-27T15:23:00.000-04:00Yeah, Donna. I think that is the point. World War ...Yeah, Donna. I think that is the point. World War II had everything mentioned here (the draft, higher taxes, rationing, travel bans). Vietnam had the draft and higher taxes and we were there for what a dozen years? Iraq, Afghanistan, and what ever they have planned next (Iran?) will probably last forever.Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09734730034413322416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-5615606717389126272008-05-27T15:10:00.000-04:002008-05-27T15:10:00.000-04:00If everyone in this country had to sacrifice for w...If everyone in this country had to sacrifice for wars (i.e. higher taxes, rationing, travel bans, etc.) there would be no wars. I do think that’s the point.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05754007118497323565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-32857585414012546112008-05-27T14:57:00.000-04:002008-05-27T14:57:00.000-04:00This is stuff everyone should be thinking about…This is stuff everyone should be thinking about…Ron W.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12058231108000008686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8750277659132824051.post-4569425621363902422008-05-27T14:46:00.000-04:002008-05-27T14:46:00.000-04:00Thanks for always saying what needs to be said. Wo...Thanks for always saying what needs to be said. Words like these can make a difference if people take the time to read.Petehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936060456960033906noreply@blogger.com