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Constructive gadfly
Memo to Voters
Published on October 21, 2004 By stevendedalus In Politics

Though the deciding vote is which commander in chief is more likely to end the war in Iraq and secure an acceptable enduring peace, there are other issues that are connected.

Winning Iraq is of little consequence:

if we expose our own borders and ports of entry;

if we ignore the Palestinian-Israeli crisis;

if we fail to establish common sense relationship with Iran by joining Britain, Germany and France’s current negotiations, while simultaneously gleaning rapport among its majority which wants reforms;

if we don’t call North Korea’s bluff by returning to inspections and the “light water” nuclear reactor offer;

if we don’t swallow resentment and assist Spain to fight terrorism where cells are still deeply entrenched;

if there is no White House Dutch uncle-jawboning for the intelligence agencies to terminate their respective territorial professional jealousy and forge a true camaraderie to search out aggressively terrorist cells at home and overseas;

if there is no solid industrial base that can easily switch to war plants in time of crises;

if we don’t check the monopolies of Wal-Mart and its ilk, before it gets into defense contracts “we can supply the defense department with much cheaper arms and war gear from China,” let alone undermining small business, many of which are the backbone of the nation’s defense supplies;

if we don’t end the madness of tax cuts, corporate welfare and tax shelters, rendering defense vulnerable by institutionalizing war-borrowing from foreign countries, while generations are born into bankruptcy — on the other hand, this could be a mixed blessing in that there is no way future citizens could afford to indulge in wars of choice.

   

Copyright © 2004 Richard R. Kennedy All rights reserved. Revised: October 21, 2004.

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Comments
1
Madine
on Oct 21, 2004
I don't think Iraq will be of little consequence.

Link

We still have strong manufacturing output, just not as much employment. The reason is productivity.

You forgot the madness of ever-expanding health and welfare spending.

If anything, the GOP is the party that spends too much on defense, not too little.

We haven't been ignoring Israel-Palestine.

What is a common sense relationship with Iran?

I don't think North Korea is bluffing.

Agreed on borders/ports and intelligence, but I think the focus needs to be on people, not on cargo containers.
2
drmiler
on Oct 21, 2004

Reply #1 By: Madine - 10/21/2004 3:23:40 PM
I don't think Iraq will be of little consequence.

Link

We still have strong manufacturing output, just not as much employment. The reason is productivity.

You forgot the madness of ever-expanding health and welfare spending.

If anything, the GOP is the party that spends too much on defense, not too little.

We haven't been ignoring Israel-Palestine.

What is a common sense relationship with Iran?

I don't think North Korea is bluffing.

Agreed on borders/ports and intelligence, but I think the focus needs to be on people, not on cargo containers.


You go girl!
3
stevendedalus
on Oct 21, 2004
We haven't been ignoring Israel-Palestine.
Oh, really?
Agreed on borders/ports and intelligence, but I think the focus needs to be on people, not on cargo containers.
Yes, they can put people[terrorists] in containers
don't think North Korea is bluffing.
if not then what, war?
What is a common sense relationship with Iran?
I explained it.
We still have strong manufacturing output, just not as much employment.
for how long? the problem is not unemployment but underemployment--still this is unrelated to the memo. Thanks for your input.
4
Madine
on Oct 21, 2004
We announced support for the Gaza pullout. Isn't that a step in the right direction? I don't know what we can do there right now. We initiated the roadmap, but it broke down because Palestinian terror groups refused a cease fire. I don't think peace can proceed unless as long as Arafat is in power. Do you? Are you suggesting we try to force him out?

I'm a guy, but I appreciate your sentiment drmiller.

5
Texas Wahine
on Oct 21, 2004
I'm a guy


wow . . . I have been picturing you as a middle-aged red-headed woman!
6
Dr Guy
on Oct 21, 2004
don't think North Korea is bluffing.
[quote[if not then what, war?



Listen and learn. Those who bluster are doing it for effect, not for war, usually (i.e., not unless backed into a corner). Those who sneak and slither, will use it as a "surprise"!

Better bone up on Diplomacy 101!

You just lost the arguement.
7
drmiler
on Oct 21, 2004

Reply #4 By: Madine - 10/21/2004 5:00:37 PM
We announced support for the Gaza pullout. Isn't that a step in the right direction? I don't know what we can do there right now. We initiated the roadmap, but it broke down because Palestinian terror groups refused a cease fire. I don't think peace can proceed unless as long as Arafat is in power. Do you? Are you suggesting we try to force him out?

I'm a guy, but I appreciate your sentiment drmiller.


I had the same picture in my head as Tex did.
8
Texas Wahine
on Oct 21, 2004
I had the same picture in my head as Tex did.


he he he . . . that's something . . . madine, you must be giving off a middle-aged red-headed woman vibe . . .
9
blogic
on Oct 21, 2004
Good piece, stevendedalus,

I think Bush is making a huge mistake not putting more focus on resolving the Israel-Palestine issue. While Americans believe that Iraq is central to the War Against Terrorism, I think the Israel-Palestine situation has far more serious long term consequences than Iraq ever did. We're creating generations of Arabs who identify the United States with the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

I strongly support the existence of Israel, but because of our knee jerk support of Likud party policies, Israel is actually less secure, and America less safe.
10
stevendedalus
on Oct 22, 2004
madine, you must be giving off a middle-aged red-headed woman vibe
Fiery Red, right?
I strongly support the existence of Israel, but because of our knee jerk support of Likud party policies, Israel is actually less secure, and America less safe.
Absolutely!
We announced support for the Gaza pullout.
We need hands on interest, not simply an announcement.
11
Grim Xiozan
on Oct 22, 2004
I still prefer Badnarik and here is why, pulled from his website because I am lazy and tired.

For Democrats:
  • Supports free speech—opposes the types of restrictions being put on the advertising of Michael Moore's movie, Fahrenheit 9/11

  • Supports complete separation of church and state and get government out of the marriage business—John Kerry only supports civil unions; Badnarik would keep the federal government completely out of marriage

  • Supports equal treatment of all people under the law—opposes racial profiling

  • Advocates repealing federal regulations that prevent minorities from starting their own businesses

  • Opposes federal control over abortion

  • End the war in Iraq sooner than John Kerry

  • End foreign interventionism

  • Publicly opposes the draft

  • Badnarik supports the repeal of federal mandates and controls over schools; this system ruins education and holds all schools to the same standards despite their different means and demographics

  • End the "War on Drugs"

  • Allow the sick to use medical marijuana


For Republicans:
  • The Bush administration's discretionary spending has exceeded the Clinton administration's discretionary spending—not including the additional 500 billion spent on the war
  • The Bush administration lied to the American people in order to invade Iraq
  • The Bush administration plans to re-institute the draft after the election
  • Bush administration policies have created an increase in the cost of petroleum products
  • Bush administration, under the guise of national security has nearly bankrupted the transportation industry
  • If George Bush wins this election, Hillary Clinton is expected to be the Democratic nominee in 2008
  • The Bush administration has usurped state and local control on multiple issues


For Military:
  • Supports maintaining a strong military—for purposes of defense of the United States
  • Veterans benefits and military pay—This is one of the few areas wherein spending should increase. Those who have served our country should be fairly compensated for their service, and their medical benefits should be the best available. There is no excuse for providing less than adequate services to those who have put their lives on the line to defend our country.
  • Strictly volunteer military—no draft—and none should be needed if our engagements are limited to defense and our military compensation is commensurate with the private sector


For Reform Party Members:
  • The first viable third-party candidate since Ross Perot
  • Michael Badnarik is a Constitution scholar
  • Eliminate deficit spending now
  • Veto any unbalanced budget
  • Eliminate corporate welfare
  • Break the strangle-hold of the two-party system
  • Establish a hard currency system
  • Dissolve the federal reserve
  • Withdraw from the United Nations and evict them


Pretty much all the reasons above and Badnarik's stronger stance on the border problem is why I am supporting Michael Badnarik for President, because I am sick of the two parties who have become so similar there was only a 2% difference in the budget for last year.

- Grim X
Go Badnarik Go!!
12
Lee1776
on Oct 22, 2004
We're creating generations of Arabs who identify the United States with the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.


I think that has already happened long before now.
________________________________________________________________________
Steve

This ones alot closer to a target then your last one to troops, but I still disagree.

if we fail to establish common sense relationship with Iran by joining Britain, Germany and France’s current negotiations, while simultaneously gleaning rapport among its majority which wants reforms


Maybe it would be nice to see them hang themselves again (Like Fance in Rowanda or Bosnia). Then they may be a little more grateful for us cleaning up their mess. They keep complaining that we are always playing the worlds policemen all the time. Let them do something for once.

if we ignore the Palestinian-Israeli crisis


We're not ignoring them, our plan is to help them buy the cement for that wall they are building, so they can pull out and give the Palestinians their own little state to ruin.

if we don’t call North Korea’s bluff by returning to inspections and the “light water” nuclear reactor offer


Sorry I don't take kindly to black mail. As long as China is North Korea's allie we can't do anything. If they would stop trying to make nuclear bombs for black mail, then they could grow their own food. Maybe we should be blaming them for their problems, not us. When is it a requirment for us to feed a communist country anyways?

if we don’t check the monopolies of Wal-Mart and its ilk, before it gets into defense contracts “we can supply the defense department with much cheaper arms and war gear from China,” let alone undermining small business, many of which are the backbone of the nation’s defense supplies


Aahh now your getting closer to my heart. But not quit.

Sorry I'm in a sarcastic mood tonight

What the hell "Shot them all and let God sort them out." Marge Simpson
13
Madine
on Oct 22, 2004
What exactly should we encourage Israel to do? My view is that the peace process is at an impasse as long as Arafat is in power. Feel free to convince me otherwise.

When I say NK isn't bluffing, I mean that they really want nuclear weapons as a deterrent, not that they want to start a war. I don't think they are just building bombs so that they can trade them for food/oil.

According to that report, since 1960, manufacturing output as a % of GDP is about the same, but manufacturing employment as a % of all employment has fallen.
14
stevendedalus
on Oct 23, 2004
When I say NK isn't bluffing, I mean that they really want nuclear weapons as a deterrent
A good example of the problem that faces non-proleferation, every country wants a strong deterrent.
What exactly should we encourage Israel to do? My view is that the peace process is at an impasse as long as Arafat is in power. Feel free to convince me otherwise.
For starters we should influence Israel to get rid of Sharon as well as insisting on Arafat to step down.Moreover, it has long been my contention that the UN has jurisdiction and needs to clamp down on both sides. 
Sorry I don't take kindly to black mail. As long as China is North Korea's allie we can't do anything. If they would stop trying to make nuclear bombs for black mail, then they could grow their own food.
Insightful but all international relations boil down to blackmail.
Strictly volunteer military—no draft—and none should be needed if our engagements are limited to defense and our military compensation is commensurate with the private sector
Aye, there's the rub. 
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