Basic Math

Since so many Americans are poor at mathematics and don't do very well with civics either, let's do a little basic math lesson here:

• Supporting the troops =/ supporting the president’s foreign policy
• Wrapping one’s self in the flag =/ patriotism
• Extreme Patriotism + Ignorance = jingoism
• Military adventurism =/ patriotism
• High percentage of economy devoted to military spending =/ strong economy
• High percentage of economy devoted to military spending – lack of competitiveness in engineering and science = weakness, vulnerability, poverty
• Questioning the administration =/ disloyalty

Let's be clear about something. This isn't a slam on the military. Neither is it some attempt to argue that the military isn't needed or isn't valuable--the military is both. Rather, it means that the military should be employed ONLY for its intended purpose: defense of this nation. Not empire building, not nation building, not one administration's foreign policy extensions and imperial aspirations, not world police.

Thomas Jefferson is widely regarded as the most brilliant of the founding fathers. He excelled in almost every endeavor of life. It’s worth recalling some of his quotes at times like these:

• We did not raise armies for glory or for conquest.
• When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
• War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.
• The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions that I wish it to be always kept alive.

And finally, Mr. Jefferson has a good assessment of why we are in our current predicament:

“Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.”

Doesn't seem to be the case these days, does it?