Interviewed on CNN tonight, John McCain was asked what would be the most important issue facing America for the next president. He responded that "Islamo-fascist terrorism" would be the most severe issue facing America for the "rest of the 21st Century".
Though I would never vote for him, I kind of like McCain. I respect his sacrifice as a war prisoner. He seems a maverick in a party of button-downs. He says he's a straight shooter.
Are some radical Islamists a terror threat, for us and many others? Yes, indeed they are. But, the dominant issue facing America for the next 92 years?
The Republicans created the war in Iraq out of thin air, and now want it has become the self-perpetuating cause for them to rally around. Fear is a powerful motivator, especially to get votes. I suspect, that on this one, McCain believes his own rhetoric. Or, maybe, it's just his campaign strategy. Either way, to continue down the present path of using unilateral military options as our primary strategy will dig us further into the hole, that started with Vietnam.
And, I fault most of the leading Democrats for not pointing this out more clearly to the American people. Obama's opposition from the start is a strong point in his favor.
If we can not produce more effective strategies for dealing with the threats of Islamist terrorists in the next administration, then perhaps McCain will be correct, after all.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Will our children live better than we do??
This week the NYTimes published an article about a "darker mood" in America. Americans are less optimistic about the future than at recent times (say 2000). Several times the article referenced that the hope/wish/dream was that our children could/would have a better life than their parents. To me, this discussion relates usually to the material aspects of our/their lives: money, food, shelter, clothes, jobs, health care, leisure, pleasures, vacations, travel, entertainment, etc.
While it is true that there are many Americans who are still struggling to get by, the majority of Americans have as much or more material success than I think is probably good for them, and I include myself in that category. Go shopping in most parts of the world outside of America, and you will see store shelves that are sparse compared to what I see at KMart, Target, Whole Foods, CVS....let alone Nordstroms, Gap, Home Depot, etc. America as a whole is, by any historical or relative standards, a rich country, with rich residents.
The time has come for Americans to envision the future in a different way; to expand our concerns as a whole beyond our immediate loyalty groups: children, family, city, state, country, race, religion, ethnic group, etc. We need to be willing to share our wealth and power with those less fortunate; to be concerned not only about our children's futures, but about the future for all children. And, indeed, for the future of our home, planet earth, and all its creatures, on whom I suspect our future depends, though we often act as though we are not dependent on them.
It's not that there are no Americans thinking like this. I feel there are many. But a dominant theme of America remains one of individual greed and acquisitiveness...primary concerns about what I need, what I want...rather than what I have that I can share with others. I see this reflected in an unwillingness to pay taxes to adequately support our common needs, especially quality education for all, universal health care, housing assistance, food stamps, etc. Opposed to these needs are farm subsidy supports for corporations, tax breaks for large corporations, and a military establishment that far exceeds our needs for self-defense.
The shift can focus first here in America, with our brothers and sisters who do not have adequate food, shelter, clothing, health care, education, and opportunities for work to sustain themselves. But it must also move beyond our borders, to the billions of other human beings with whom we share this one home....our planet.
While it is true that there are many Americans who are still struggling to get by, the majority of Americans have as much or more material success than I think is probably good for them, and I include myself in that category. Go shopping in most parts of the world outside of America, and you will see store shelves that are sparse compared to what I see at KMart, Target, Whole Foods, CVS....let alone Nordstroms, Gap, Home Depot, etc. America as a whole is, by any historical or relative standards, a rich country, with rich residents.
The time has come for Americans to envision the future in a different way; to expand our concerns as a whole beyond our immediate loyalty groups: children, family, city, state, country, race, religion, ethnic group, etc. We need to be willing to share our wealth and power with those less fortunate; to be concerned not only about our children's futures, but about the future for all children. And, indeed, for the future of our home, planet earth, and all its creatures, on whom I suspect our future depends, though we often act as though we are not dependent on them.
It's not that there are no Americans thinking like this. I feel there are many. But a dominant theme of America remains one of individual greed and acquisitiveness...primary concerns about what I need, what I want...rather than what I have that I can share with others. I see this reflected in an unwillingness to pay taxes to adequately support our common needs, especially quality education for all, universal health care, housing assistance, food stamps, etc. Opposed to these needs are farm subsidy supports for corporations, tax breaks for large corporations, and a military establishment that far exceeds our needs for self-defense.
The shift can focus first here in America, with our brothers and sisters who do not have adequate food, shelter, clothing, health care, education, and opportunities for work to sustain themselves. But it must also move beyond our borders, to the billions of other human beings with whom we share this one home....our planet.
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