Patty

By Adnan Al-Daini

April 18, 2014 "ICH" - "DV" - - A study by professor Linda J. Blimes of Harvard University concludes that the cost to the US of the Iraq and Afghan wars, taken together, will be between $4 and $6 trillion. This includes long-term medical care and disability compensation for service members, veterans and families, military replenishment and social and economic costs. The cost so far is $2 trillion.
In order to get our head round the colossal figure of $6 trillion, this is equivalent to $75,000 for every household in the US. Deaths of Iraqis and Afghans taken together are estimated from 600,000 to a million, coalition troop deaths around 8,000, over 7,000 of whom are Americans. The suffering and the sheer misery of widows, orphans and families behind these statistics are unimaginable.

Our propensity to dehumanize the ‘other’ makes it all too easy for the demagogue, the charlatan and the power hungry to exploit. We are too readily manipulated and outraged into diverting our resources into wars that cause death, injury and destruction. The suffering to millions of fellow human beings is kept from us by mainstream media too ready to play its role. In any case, the dehumanization of our ‘enemies’ dulls our compassion to the point of not seeing their pain and suffering as real.

Leaders and those who would profit from these wars would package their language in distortions and omissions to hide the truth. George Orwell summed it up: “Political language… is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.”

Let us for a moment put aside the human cost of these wars and concentrate on the economic cost. This obscene spending on death and destruction is done by a country, the US, where 15% of its citizens, 46 million, live below the poverty threshold of $23,492 and 1.5 million of its children become homeless every year.

Worldwide, 3 billion people live on less than $2.50 a day, 360 million of whom live on less than $1 a day. Grinding poverty, hunger and lack of clean water and effective sanitation blight their lives and their future. 22,000 children die every day due to poverty.

Families are trapped in a cycle of misery and deprivation that cascades through generations with no escape route. Yet in this world of need and suffering, the world military spending stood at over $1.7 trillion in 2012.

The vast majority of us individually can see that there is something seriously wrong with the way our priorities are perceived. It is beyond comprehension that with so much poverty and need worldwide, that so much wealth is spent on wars and weapons of death and destruction. However, this rationality and our sense of fairness could so easily be overcome when called upon to dehumanize our perceived ‘enemies’.

As a species we have tremendous talents. Our scientific achievements are incredible; our advances in medicine and technology are stunning. Our social development however is still almost at Stone Age level.

stan3186

That is why I'm a Libertarian and believe in a very strong self defense military and to keep out of all foreign wars. If we were to keep that 6 or 7 Trillion dollars at home, then we would have no debt and life in the U.S. would be the way it should be with no poverty. The Libertarian belief in small government would also save Trillions of dollars which would also help people to thrive. I really don't understand why it is not a more poplar political belief in this country. But we are considered the nuts and extremist? People are so brainwashed, it is just amazing.

Patty

:thumbup: :thumbup:
People have been indoctrinated and they find it easier to let others do their thinking for them.
I must have been having a very strange dream this morning because I woke thinking "why do the economist of these times wait for the Government policy makers to tell them what numbers to come up with"
Every market, gov, stat, and social belief is manipulated to be merely "Headline News" There is no truth left anywhere in this country.

lpnmajor Loc: Arkansas

That's right. We Americans are far too pampered and protected. 250,000 people butchered in Africa and only a few of us are even aware of it. 3 Americans are killed in some foreign country and we're prepared to got to war. Why? because American media only present things that they believe will get our attention, it's entertainment after all.

We don't really care about suffering elsewhere, it's not our problem and as long as we're told that "aid" is being sent on our behalf, we can sleep at night. Now, if OUR interests ( those things we're TOLD are out interests ) are involved, we sit up and pay attention. Very few Americans bother to look at the unrest, starvation, butchery and other mayhem around the world, because they are not personally effected. And they WON'T be personally effected, until a major media group tells them they are.

We don't have time to worry about what goes on in other countries, unless another "crisis in Ukraine" is brought to our attention by the media. We have jobs and families and an endless list of "likes" and "friends" to keep track of on facebook and twitter. Too many celebrities we're following ( and we have to keep a close eye, in case one farts in public and we miss it), not to mention the ever evolving political circus ( wouldn't want to miss one of the clowns doing a new routine).

We are a generation of "where's mine?" and " what's in it for me?". We have two more generations following us, who are even more selfish, self centered and hedonistic. When describing a drunk's or a drug addict's behavior, we wind up describing the majority of our own citizens. Ever heard of a heroin addict being concerned about someone else's problems?

Patty

:thumbup:

Mom8052 Loc: Lost in the mountains of New Mexico

I'm a Democrat, when it comes to voting, if the Demo seem to fit the bill, then I vote Repub. I can say that after the first 4 years of Obama, I could see the writing on the wall.....I was correct. So, smaller or no government would suit me just fine. I guess I need to do some research on becoming a Libertarian. Uh, only thing is, the Liertarians don't seem to ever have anyone on the ballot. What's up with that?

Floyd Brown Loc: Milwaukee WI

Seeking more information is great but just where are you going with this type of information.

There are those in this country that are behind all that has gone on. There are those that believe in the system that produces these actions is right.

How much of the blame can be put on you or me. If so how do we have to change.

If we are blameless just who beside the current President should be blamed.

Much is wrong with the World. But much more about life is right. One bad act can undue many good acts. There is much to be gained by little actions.

It is time to put controls on greed & stop seeking to use might to make right.

Those that have the most control over things use the government to execute that power. Government is of much more use in holding people captive than freeing them.

We can use our knowledge to change what needs to be changed or we can let it all go to hell & start all over.

Now just what is the right way to do that.

If we as individuals keep our self's divided we are just pawns in a game we will never have a real stake in.

I have faith & trust in us all that we can & will find a way to end most of the worlds hardships & make it a world that we all can live full & meaningful life's.

We just truly need to want it.

Patty

"Seeking more information is great but just where are you going with this type of information."
With the advancement of the fear in Washington there is coming a time where they will have to go. Why do you think they spy on every person on this planet? It was no coincidence that Read came up with "domestic terrorist" since that is how we are described in the NDAA bill.
Every politician in Washington is corrupt or they would not be in the position they are in and sit back and watch the destruction of this country.
Our economy by any economic equation used is not sustainable. What do you think is going to happen when the first to be thrown overboard are the government dependent masses?
I highly recommend that you take a look at this keeping in mind that anyone who would not follow orders under a Marshal Law decree would be considered a "domestic terrorists and could be killed according to the NDAA.
http://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/r210_35.pdf

Floyd Brown Loc: Milwaukee WI

Yes I know that any thing I say or do can be used against me.

I take comfort in advocating changes in & not overthrowing the government.

But you did side step what I brought up.

stan3186

Rand Paul is actually a Libertarian but list as Republican because it is the only chance of actually making a change by getting elected. However, the RNC will do everything in their power to keep him out. The RNC is just as corrupt as the Dems.

If you want to learn about them, here is a link that does a nice job:
http://www.lp.org/platform

Patty

You asked what my purpose was for posting these types of articles. I thought my explanation was pretty clear. I suppose you could explain to me what my intentions are if you think that I have a hidden agenda then perhaps it would be enlightening to me since I don't know what it is.

Mom8052 Loc: Lost in the mountains of New Mexico

Thank You, I will investigate. Already took the 10 question test, guess what I'm smack dab in the middle of Libertarian. who would've of thunk.

stan3186

Most right thinking (as in correct not right wing) people actually believe in the Libertarian doctrine but aren't aware because the MSM and both parties villainize it as a bunch of wackos.

Floyd Brown Loc: Milwaukee WI

How or why do you chose the issues you do.

I am not saying you have a hidden agenda but there must be some sort of reason or goal in mind.

I feel that there needs to be a pulling together of the pieces to draw a better picture of what is going on & what it is we should do to rectify things.

So while one should never stop looking for what is wrong one should start to look for things to do to correct things that are wrong.

At some point we need to stop pointing out or blaming & get down to finding answers.

I truly feel that if You & I were to find common ground we could come up with answers to many problems.

If not us then others much like us. Different views looking for common ground.

Patty

I have a very diverse list of news source. Most are not the US MSM sources as I don't like to sift through the normal BS smoke screens that are presented in them.
I work mainly with my local reps to try to get change going from a community level since Washington has no use for the peoples opinions any longer.
First we need to take our communities back and then our states and feel that is the only way we will see change.
I have a lot of ideas that would be effective but would never be considered because they don't come with profits for Washington.
First we need to bring our troops home and mind our own business.
Second we need to start working towards energy independence since energy is the back bone of a country. That could easily be done by laying an infrastructure of pipelines on our east to west interstates on right of ways that we already own and provide a nat gas system to replace all diesel trucks within 10 years. This would provide jobs, clean energy, and independence. There is no reason that the big corps should be taking our resources out of the ground for just the price of extraction.
If we would have put the money into this type of project 10 years ago instead of the crony green energy agenda that only take our money then file bankruptcy we would already be independent.