- What American actions are you proud of?
- What American actions are you ashamed of?
- Can we hope to get out of this mess without facing up to Congressional corruption?
- Why aren't the Presidential candidates asked to defend their earmarks in the debates?
I am proud of some things that my country has done, mostly non-military, such as the Marshall Plan and Tsunami relief. We did the right thing in Korea, the wrong thing in Vietnam.
I am ashamed of some things that my country has done, such as the trail of tears, which betrays the claim that we are a country of laws and not men. The Supreme Court ruled against Andrew Jackson and his land speculator friends; President J said, “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!” Ralph Waldo Emerson and others in Massachusetts who became anti-slavery activists spoke up against Cherokee removal.
The macho Andrew Jackson was not all bad; he is on the twenty-dollar bill. Historians like Arthur Schlesinger Jr who wrote about him and his importance in American history didn’t see or weren’t interested in the fate of Native Americans and non-whites. I’d put Jackson into a similar category as Ronald Reagan, more complex and not as evil as our current President.
There is a long tradition of US intervention in other countries of which I am deeply ashamed- we could start with the CIA overthrow of democratically elected Iranian premier Mossadeq in 1952 or we could go back much further. Mexico and Canada have government corruption, but have intervened less in the internal affairs of other countries because they are less powerful. Power corrupts- if Mexico had our power, they might be even more corrupt. I’m trying to control our militarism, not worrying about Mexican failings. Our Congress is as much to blame for our current militarism, which threatens to destroy us financially if not curbed, as is Dubya Bush.
Our country is in serious trouble- government spending like drunken sailors, incompetent high officials, education and healthcare crowded out by military spending (how come the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are still off budget?) a CYA Congress neglecting the country. We must be honest about the magnitude of our problems.
The Bill Moyers program yesterday about earmarks was very interesting. You may access the Seattle Times database of 2007 defense earmarks at http://community.seattletimes.nwsour... It’s interesting to contrast the records of Clinton, McCain and Obama on earmarks. Clinton is high on the list of earmarkers- in 2007, she gave over $110 M dollars as defense related earmarks. Obama gave $3.3 M, McCain zero. A Seattle Times story indicates that she’s given over 220 earmarks in recent spending bills, and asks the question how can her staff possibly determine the need for so many earmarks? See seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004171198_earmarks08m.html
This year Clinton has already given 66 defense related earmarks, Obama 9, Ron Paul one and McCain none. In fact, McCain has never given any earmarks and has received far less money from defense contractors than Clinton. If HRC is the Democratic nominee, expect a drumbeat about Clinton corruption- Marc Rich, Bill’s Kazakhstan caper and Hillary’s earmarks. McCain, a genial but sophomoric warmonger with terrible judgment may be able to use his wonderful rapport with journalists and his maverick image to defeat Clinton. I see both Clintons as smart, level headed and dishonest, that’s why they don’t release their tax records. McCain may be more honest than Clinton but he’s very dangerous. He doesn’t realize the difference between airpower and counterinsurgency. He doesn’t realize how many enemies the Blackwater contractors make in Iraq. Petraeus realizes but keeps his mouth shut. Petraeus will speak out in the fall election, as will bin Laden with another video.
I support Obama and was a precinct captain for him, doing two precincts while working full time. He is a politician not a saint. Of course he has made mistakes, and compromised, like every member of Congress, but his message transcends race and gender. He offers hope for racial peace. It’s Latinos that concern me most. Illegal immigrants and to some extent all Latinos are our Jews- I’ve read proposals to pay citizens for every illegal that they turn in- human bounty hunters. If elected Obama will need pressure to change some of the widespread government corruption; it won’t be easy. It is not limited to Republicans. Please peruse the Seattle Times database. Earmarks are only one form of corruption- I am pleased that my Congressman Adam Schiff has given no earmarks. Newspapers should commend those few legislators who refrain from this corruption. I could defend Obama's earmarks by noting that most went to nonprofit institutions but I won’t because they were still wrong. If we had proper questioning during these Presidential campaign dog and pony shows, both Clinton and Obama would be asked to defend their earmarks- could HRC defend or even remember her 220+ earmarks? Just what experience does she want us to notice?