‘Not the time’
‘Not the time’
An idiotic notion
The Chicago Tribune editorial July 12, while criticizing Obama and Romney for “pandering” on the tax issue, states, “this is not the time for a tax increase.”
Oh, really? So we’re going to let our kids and grand kids pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? How is it that we have become a generation of Americans who can expect to support expensive foreign wars and enjoy lower taxes — at the same time?
Back in WWII, it was probably “not the time” to inconvenience American civilians by rationing necessities such as gasoline and food. Also, it was probably “not the time” to ask Americans, millions of whom were still recovering from the Great Depression, to scrimp and save a bit more in order to buy U.S. War Bonds.
During the Vietnam War, it was probably “not the time” for the burning of draft cards and American flags. Also, it was probably “not the time” for anti-war protests.
Now, at this time, after nearly 11 years of military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, we Americans at home have not suffered the indignity and discomfort of anti-war protests, at least partly because this is probably “not the time” for a draft.
Since the issue, however, is taxation, let’s talk money.
The U.S. military efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, so far, have lasted, in time, almost twice as long as American military involvement in both WWI and WWII combined. In addition, the more modern wars feature increasingly expensive high-tech weaponry. For example, IED-proof U.S. Army troop transport trucks are priced at nearly $1.5 million each.
The sacrifices of so many of our brave fellow Americans who have volunteered for military service in the Middle East clearly show that they have paid the price dearly. Most importantly, these good people and their loved ones have paid their price now — with no option of time payments, even though many vets and their families will know no end to their suffering.
On the other hand, many millions of Americans and our families who have not been affected as directly by these wars seem to be being fed the idiotic notion that we can have wars now and pay later.
It is truly an idiotic notion because this is not a no-interest loan.
I believe, for we Americans who have remained here in the U.S.A., especially those of us with yearly incomes greater than $250,000, this is “not the time” to be whining about taxes.
David M. Bouchier
Kailua-Kona
Gun issue
Another perspective
The recent shooting in Colorado has reinvigorated the anti-gun lobby and I thought I would offer a little food for thought.
In 2011, in Norway, a country of strict gun laws, a man named Brevik exploded a bomb in Oslo and then crossed over to the Island of Utoeya. He carried a Ruger rifle, a Glock pistol and plenty of ammunition.
He then spent the next hour and a half shooting people at random. He killed 69 men, women and children and wounded 209.
Out of the many hundreds of people on the island, none had a weapon. They hid, fled, or swam for their lives. Finally police arrived in a boat and arrested Brevik. Too late for the hundreds of victims. One gun might have spared hundreds of victims.
I believe there are few places on earth that a determined shooter could not acquire a gun.
Stanley Moore
Kailua-Kona