Some highlights:
- Republicans seemed likely to scuttle efforts to provide 13 more weeks of unemployment benefits as well as money for heating subsidies, fighting Western wildfires and aid to rural schools, and numerous other programs added by a key panel last week.
- Such spending had been backed by senators in both parties but had drawn a veto promise from President Bush.
- The White House has promised to veto the additional veterans education benefits, arguing that they would hurt efforts to re-enlist troops finishing their stints in the service.
This is ridiculous. We are now officially and directly cutting domestic spending (that is not only greatly needed and much more productive for the world) for the war that has no end and no goal. Now I'm sure that domestic spending has been cut repeatedly throughout the war but I have not done the research yet on this. If anyone has any information on this feel free to post.
Perhaps the most shocking thing about all this is the second bullet above. Bush is admitting that he will veto any bill that would provide free education to veterans. This bill would cost about $52 billion dollars which is surely no small sum, but are we not willing to reward the people who are giving their lives for our country. I will be the first to admit that I do not agree with sending anyone off to fight, but I would be the first one to reward them for doing their duty. Whereas this administration was quick to send people off to fight and just as quick to deny those people any rewards.
While doing some research I stumbled upon this site:
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home
This site gives the cost of the war and the direct effects it has had on your community. It is truly astounding what could be done with this money that is going into a war that shouldn't even be happening, even in Afghanistan.
I know this may be an unpopular sentiment (though if we truly looked at our souls it wouldn't be so controversial) and very ideological but we should not be fighting ANYWHERE!!!
There is no reason we can not be at peace in this country. We are not at war with any neighbors, we don't have any resources that others want. The only thing we are doing that causes people to not like us is.....FIGHTING WARS!!! It is quite preposterous to think that fighting a war would bring peace. Its like trying to melt an ice cube by putting it in the freezer, it just won't work. Even if we 'won' the war in Iraq and set up a government there, what do you think will happen next? Suddenly the entire middle east will be at peace? They have been at war for centuries, practically since the beginning of recorded history. So if we establish a 'democratic government' in Iraq then we will be at war in Iran, then Jordan, then Syria, etc.
THERE IS NO END TO A WAR!!!
Wars beget other wars and it will always be that way. The only way to peace is to work hard to resolve these conflicts. We can no longer take the stance of not talking to leaders we disagree with, in fact they should be the leaders we talk to the most!
I have gotten off topic and I'm sure I will talk about all this at some other time. The important thing now is to show how you feel about the war and this war spending bill!! The politicians must hear our opinion, you must let the politicians know how you feel!! Even if you support the bill and/or the war you must speak out. I do not mean to say that my way of thinking is the only way and am well aware of many other opinions and I would love to hear these!! Dialogue is the first step to turning an enemy into a friend.
Even if Bush veto's the bill with the extra domestic spending, the Senate can override this veto!! So please speak up and make sure your politicians are actually representing you, they can't represent a silent voice!
Here are some sites to help you contact your local representatives:
http://www.webslingerz.com/jhoffman/congress-email.html
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
No comments:
Post a Comment