I work out of Fairbanks, Alaska. No I cannot see
Russia, even on a clear day. But what I can see, so clearly even on
the cloudiest of days, that being the remnants of the George Bush
Presidency, 2001 through 2009 - the most destructive and decrepit
years for America without a president “With the People”. The
other day, Bush was passing time with a beer out at the Texas
Rangers' Stadium, sitting in preferential box office seats, along
with several rich friends. He didn't look as though he was enjoying
himself, matter of fact he looked like he was suffering from deep
down depression. Maybe it is starting to sink in, how and what he
left this nation and its leaders to contend with, a sinking ship. The
joy of a dictatorship was George's back then, now the pain of a
nation on “tilt” is his pain of remembrance - it is his to
contend with. That pain and suffering he got us into and left us
failed as a once great nation, even though not what we voted for, it
remains with us as a very sad reminder of what can happen when we
allow the “Vote of the People” to be attacked, a coup by the
Supreme Court. Then when it was finally over with, Bush and his
pathetic administration retired away. George to the “Ranch” to
write his memoirs, still “Intentionally Left Blank”, as what is
there to write about? It would be self-incrimination, which even to
an outlaw, unconstitutional. So what I do see day in and day out is
the price of WAR front and center, and I am just a sideliner this
tear jerking scene, and see just a smidgen of the true conflict
casualties. In Alaska, Fairbanks is home to the 172nd
Stryker Brigade, the foot soldiers that seem to show up to end the
conflicts, to police the scene, door-to-door combat sweeping
operations. Casualties are many, as it is boots to the ground for the
men and women that join the ARMY and become part of this elite
assault “Team”. In and around Fairbanks, it is not unusual to see
returning troops walking around at 50 below, in shorts. Not that they
have become immune to the “heat” of the battle grounds or the
“cold” of rugged mountain scouting expeditions when on the
look-out for terrorists, the fact of the matter sinks-in that hi-tech
limbs do not succumb to the bone chilling cold that is found in
interior Alaska. It is a shame to see so many young kids, with the
full mobility for life's enjoyment compromised – shrapnel
casualties, from something the enemy checked us on, known as
“Improved Explosive Devices”! And it is not unusual to see the
returning troops lined up at one of the many localities under the
umbrella of “Check Mate” - just modern day pawn shops wherein a
troop can auction off some of his hard earned pay, auction off some
of his danger pay incentive, just to provide bread and milk for his
family. Sure there is hunger here in Americas, but why in hell are
our troops and family members going hungry? “My belly full but me
hungry”, how about that for a new American anthem! It seems that
since the Iran Kuwait conflict, these thrift stop loan shark joints
have increased. Yes, Mr. Bush senior may be credited to finding a war
theater that would bring the troop count up, but I wonder how both
George and George would feel if either one had to fish with a “hook”
arm! It ain't easy. WAR has casualties, war has unforgiving
debilitating results, war threatens the “trinity”, that of life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness for many engaged on the
battlefield. Sure it is by choice that the troops brave the
camouflaged fatigues and body armer, but isn't it a duty that should
find at least a decent pay, wherein their families can live in a
somewhat decent lifestyle without worry? Don't the spouses have
enough to worry about when their loved ones are far and away,
defending the Bush doctrine? But when our troops must resort to “loan
sharks” just to make it through, a pay check to pay check
existence, it is bothersome this taxpayer. Now when one looks at the
defense appropriations budget, its immensity, why in hell is so
little going out as a decent wage for those engaged in hand-to-hand
combat? They receive such meager pay for such dangerous work.
Soldiers for hire with outfits like “Black Stallion”, well they
get paid three times as much, have a huge life insurance policy and
get time off. And these wannabe GI Joe Rambo soldiers can say no to
their boss, if dangerous work beckons the call, just give it to the
“grunts” over at Charlie Camp is the sentiment. Now we owe it to
these kids that have signed up from those “I WANT YOU”
advertisements, at least a decent day's pay for such miserable work.
So what gives? Wow, this is so sad. The “cash cow” lobby, through
high powered law firms are engaged in doing the bidding, and this
“lobby” has time after time opposed any wage increases for the
troops. Why? Simple, it interferes with what has become a very
lucrative business, once out-lawed, called “Loan Sharking”! These
are not fly by night dungeon corner or end alley joints, but a network
of wealthy investors, making a killing on those out trying to make a
killing. Alarmed, you shouldn't be, as Congress is broke! The list on
donations for political contributions those that own this decrepit
business, it is mind boggling. But Congress doesn't care, as it has
immunity, “What War”? Matter of fact, in Anchorage when due to
municipal building codes these “jip joints” were still off limits
within so many circular miles of any military base approach, guess
what, the laws were changed - with no longer any barriers. That is
why you see so many of these outfits that look more like a “whore”
hangout then a legitimate business sprouting up at every damn
installation entry point, from sea to shinning sea. These outfits are
making a killing with our troops and their families. Through the
“lobby”, this country has gone down the tubes. When we have a
Congress that is under so much pressure from a lobby that it instills
a “Treason” like dereliction of duty upon out troops, maybe the
kids should turn on the very establishment that places them in harms
way. Look, the things happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, these are
conflicts, as the real Hatfield & McCoy war is right here in the
Homeland. It is close to the 4th of July, Independence
Day. We value our Independence, in that drive for life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness. But Independence comes at a cost, and it
shouldn't be the cost of getting a loan to survive, wherein some
investors are making it rich and continue to control the “Lobby”
for their own selfish wellbeing - “Greed” has sickened the very
foundation that made this country once so great. The “Great
Emancipator” is bloated with disdain, as it has become a class war
here in the Homeland. Isn't it time to outlaw the “LOBBY”? I
watched an old RAMBO flick the other night, called “RAMBO III”.
It is the flick wherein this Vietnam worrier returns to America, when
times were tough for soldiers, due the unpopularity of the WAR. When
Sylvester meets up with the police chief – Brian Dennehy – the
chief makes comments to the worrier like “take a bath, clean your
clothes, then get a job... Sound familiar, as this is where Dick
Cheney found that same and similar familiar line of attack, “Go get
a job right after you take a bath….” Maybe that is what Dick was
thinking about, our troops, as he is making a killing, through his
affiliation with defense contractors. Anyway with Independence Day
upon us, time to highlight what it all means:
When in the Course of human events, it becomes
necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have
connected them with another...We hold these truths to be
self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed
by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these
are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. -- That to secure
these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their
just powers from the consent of the governed, – That whenever any
Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right
of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to
institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles
and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most
likely to effect their Safety and Happiness...when a long train of
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a
design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it
is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new
Guards for their future security.
Wow, an over-throw, by and for our own TROOPS! The
time has come of age.
No comments:
Post a Comment