Considering that they are lowering recruitment standards (including waivers for drug use and felonies), putting the soldiers in a war zone, extending their tours via stop-loss, putting the soldiers into a war which is ethically questionable, asking the soldiers to do duties for which they are NOT trained (soldiers blow things up. Policemen police an area), is there really any question?

The thing that gets me is that the Viet Nam vets were claimed to have a high rate of mental disorders because the public didn’t support them.

Now, the mantra is oppose the war but support our troops. But our troops are developing the same disorders in this unethical invasion as they did in Nam.

Now if we could only find statistics on mental illness in Blackwater mercenaries !

I the words of John Rambo: “I just want my country to love me as much as I love it”. That is what this idiot doesn’t get. The men and women who serve in our military and fight in war deserve more than some two bit politican who gets elected on lies.

And with Mary: Yes, it will be time to leave the country, if it turns out this is a country of people who really would elect McCain at a time like this. In that case, I’ll be leaving a country that has revived ancient Mayan principles of human sacrifice, strong young males hacked to bits, by the thousands, endlessly, for the prosperity of the few, with the full permission of the citizenry.

I’m saving my dwindling-value dollars for the move north. Or, hell, maybe even south.

Some wonderful edifying comments this topic, thank you TP, and please, don’t anybody go away, please.

I’m old enough to remember the shameful treatment of vets returning from Vietnam. Wounded warriors being greeted by jeering crowds is flat out wrong. At least we seem to have avoided that particular shame. Perhaps we don’t want to hold unsophisticated young people responsible for believing the sophisticated lies of Bushco?

Regardless, it seems that Today’s anti-war generation is managing to assign blame to the the guilty parties. This time around we see “the man behind the curtain”. I, for one, take that as an encouraging sign. And it bodes poorly for the reckless radicals who have seized power in this country. We still have an opportunity to utilize the strengths of our system to fix it. And every damning email exchange that reaches the light of day gives us more ammunition.

Me too, Wayne.

While I am glad to finally see some msm coverage, it is not enough. And not one has presented the whole ugly picture of the whole mess and tragedy of the treatment of our veterans. Just bits an pieces, so anyone that doesn’t know how veterans have been systematically denied coverage, just listening to/reading the news you do not get an idea of how bad it really is. And it is that bad.

I was really hoping the 110th Congress, with a majority of Democrats would do something, anything, but I am sorely disappointed. I will vote Democrat this November, but if nothing is done, if the crooks are let off, then in my mind the Democrats are as guilty and there is only the options of building a viable 3rd party, revolting or leaving this country before it implodes on itself.

Yeah, I’m bitter too

Two changes that are absolutely necessary are:

1) America must break its chains to militarism.

That means that we must stop romanticizing the notion that taking very young adults and training them to be killing machines has to stop. It no longer can be a means to an end. It also means that yes, we need to help these young kids we have already fed into the meat grinder but the rest must stop. Now. Today. No more money to the military machine. None.

Spending hard earned treasury to uphold a belief that violence against other cultures is a viable option in the 21st century should remain relegated to the dustbin of history.

You each have a choice to make.

You can support Empire
OR
Earth Community

And all that it entails.

That means making substantial, sustainable choices that educate and show others that your level of consciousness is of a higher level than what the status quo is. Voting is not enough anymore. Lifestyles must change. We can no longer attempt to rule the world for our own self aggrandizement. We are all responsible. Hopelessness and despair beget suicide. Why do you think freedom fighters use it?

I have tied my bandana to my bike. And you?

It is time to show each other who will support Earth Community and reject Empire’s dominance.

P.S I’ll save the other necessary change for another post. It would probably be considered as radical as this one. TP may reject my posting as they did one other yesterday but I will not abandon my individual conscience to a morally dubious nationalism. The earth is too important.

Please reconsider.

It’s just that it’s been really tough hanging in there for the last 8 years and I’m getting worn down. I like to think that I would never give up no matter what so who knows.

McCain’s chances of winning will depend heavily on his choice of running mate. And I’m sure the GOP already knows who they want as his pick. He won’t get to pick his own choice. And the GOP will put up someone even worse for his running mate, like Giuliani or Rice.

If McCain ends up winning the presidency, though, I suppose I will have to conclude that the pendulum of society’s leanings must have been co-opted and perhaps you’re right about there being no hope. We joke about it sometimes but I think it really would be time to flee the country if that happens.

Here I was trying to be positive and upbeat, and Mary’s post struck that haunting little nerve I keep trying to deny. I may not be able to do anything but give up if McFlintstone actually wins.

the top frikkin media advisor can’t spell stopping?

I was thinking the same thing! Then I wondered 2 things, Was that an accurate transcription and was the intended word actually, “schtuping” which would be a more accurate representation of what they are actually doing to our Vets!

If McCain ends up winning the presidency, though, I suppose I will have to conclude that the pendulum of society’s leanings must have been co-opted and perhaps you’re right about there being no hope. We joke about it sometimes but I think it really would be time to flee the country if that happens.

Is the fact that we’re stooping them good news, or is the sheer number bad news?

For the love of humanity, would Dems and Repubs in Congress please impeach this man. What kind of sick mind would have to ask whether, “is the sheer number bad news”.

Is this guy brain dead, the true spawn of Satan, or does he have his head so far up Bush’s A-Hole that he cannot comprehend that 1000 suicides/ month IS BAD NEW because its HORRIBLE.

Dear God, these people are Sick, Evil, and CRAZY.