Remember month's ago when it was feared that Hillary Clinton would not be tested in the Democratic nomination process? Now the worry is that the party cannot be brought back together.
In Kentucky, Clinton took the cities and Sanders took the rural areas, especially the coal country. I don't know why the coal country favored Sanders over Clinton as Sanders is as much against coal as Clinton, maybe even more so.
Hillary's two opponents - Trump and Sanders - surprisingly share a number of viewpoints such as:*
Both being against foreign trade such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) deal;**
Both opposed the Iraq War;
Both flip-flopped on gun control;
Both are against big money in politics (though Trump's claims of self -funding are false);
Both want to get rid of Obamacare (ACA) and replace it with a single-payer plan;
Both want to increase taxes on some or all of the wealthy (Trump notes " carried interest" of Hedge funds);
Both support maintaining or expanding the current levels of Social Security benefits;
Both are concerned about the effect of illegal immigration on American jobs.
Both Trump's and Sander's claim the system is rigged and their followers have gotten violent or said violent things.
But of course there are differences also. I'm not sure how serious Trump is to deporting all the illegals, but I think he is serious about building the wall on our Southern border. with Mexico. I say this because Trump likes to build things. Just think, "The Great Wall of Trump" to compete with The Great Wall of China.
* http://www.theatlantic.com/notes/2016/01/what-bernie-sanders-and-donald-trump-have-in-common/422907/
** Though Hillary recently has come out against TPP, I suspect that she will flip back when (if?) she becomes president.
Showing posts with label Iraq war. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Iraq war. Show all posts
Friday, May 20, 2016
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
TRIBUTE TO EXCESS!
Look, I'm fine with rebuilding the Twin Towers area as has been done as it has symbolic value in addition to economic value. I'm fine with the "$1.8 avg. million dollar" payments to the families of the victims not to sue the airlines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11th_Victim_Compensation_Fund). I'm fine with the tasteful list of the names of all the victims in the courtyard.
But I get into trouble with the 100,000 sq.ft. museum that is 7 stories (7 STORIES) underground (UNDERGROUND) at a cost of a billion dollars PLUS $60 million/yr for upkeep of which $20 million/yr is to be provided by the Federal government. Sen. Coburn has objected to this, and I am with him (http://www.politico.com/huddle/0912/huddle1122.html). It seems like there is not enough that can be done for the victims, their families, and survivors of the Twin Towers disaster. And you can add to that the health concerns of the survivors of which I am all in favor as I am for universal health care.
Look if some billionaire or group of billionaires were to bankroll this, I certainly wouldn't stand in the way and a billion dollar gift would provide a $50 million/yr for upkeep (@5% withdrawal/yr).
I also can't imagine what they are going to put into the museum. I can see one story and maybe it has to be underground, but 7 stories and 100,000 sq.ft.?
SO, have we done enough for the U.S military victims (58,282 KIA and 153,303 WIA requiring hospitalization) and their families of Vietnam? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War_casualties) And what about the 33,651 military and plus 3,262 other U.S. deaths in Korea? (http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-507_162-202741.html) And many of the injured have life changing wounds (lost arms, legs, and minds).
While I am at it, there were more troops killed in Iraq (4,409 plus 31,908 wounded) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Iraq_War) than in 9/11 twin towers (2,606 in the towers and on the ground). This is not to say that the number killed in Afghanistan won't exceed the number killed on 9/11 as the casualties have passed 2,000 with 1-1/4 yrs to run plus another 17,382 wounded in action. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_casualties_in_Afghanistan). Then there is the little contribution of $5 billion/wk to run these wars. Though we may have invaded Iraq over oil and the threat to kill Bush-41, we certainly only invaded Afghanistan because of 9/11. It seems to me that this blood and treasure are a huge monument to the victims of 9/11 by itself.
But I get into trouble with the 100,000 sq.ft. museum that is 7 stories (7 STORIES) underground (UNDERGROUND) at a cost of a billion dollars PLUS $60 million/yr for upkeep of which $20 million/yr is to be provided by the Federal government. Sen. Coburn has objected to this, and I am with him (http://www.politico.com/huddle/0912/huddle1122.html). It seems like there is not enough that can be done for the victims, their families, and survivors of the Twin Towers disaster. And you can add to that the health concerns of the survivors of which I am all in favor as I am for universal health care.
Look if some billionaire or group of billionaires were to bankroll this, I certainly wouldn't stand in the way and a billion dollar gift would provide a $50 million/yr for upkeep (@5% withdrawal/yr).
I also can't imagine what they are going to put into the museum. I can see one story and maybe it has to be underground, but 7 stories and 100,000 sq.ft.?
SO, have we done enough for the U.S military victims (58,282 KIA and 153,303 WIA requiring hospitalization) and their families of Vietnam? (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War_casualties) And what about the 33,651 military and plus 3,262 other U.S. deaths in Korea? (http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-507_162-202741.html) And many of the injured have life changing wounds (lost arms, legs, and minds).
While I am at it, there were more troops killed in Iraq (4,409 plus 31,908 wounded) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Iraq_War) than in 9/11 twin towers (2,606 in the towers and on the ground). This is not to say that the number killed in Afghanistan won't exceed the number killed on 9/11 as the casualties have passed 2,000 with 1-1/4 yrs to run plus another 17,382 wounded in action. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_casualties_in_Afghanistan). Then there is the little contribution of $5 billion/wk to run these wars. Though we may have invaded Iraq over oil and the threat to kill Bush-41, we certainly only invaded Afghanistan because of 9/11. It seems to me that this blood and treasure are a huge monument to the victims of 9/11 by itself.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
THE SERGEANTS (Poem)
Who are these sergeants, mostly men,
Dying in such numbers in far off lands?
Iraq, Afghanistan.
More than corporals,
More than privates.
Our top heavy military?
Some sergeants in their 50s.
More in their 40s.
Many in their 30s.
They must have been surprised
To be called at such ages
Into a savage war.
http://icasualties.org/OEF/Fatalities.aspx Figures for Operation Enduring Freedom up to date were 525 sergeants, 339 corporals, 339 specialists, and 341 privates (both Pvt. and Pvt 1st Class).
Total figures from 3/21/2003 to 4/30/2006 only are 738 sergeants, 707 corporals and 339 privates. http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=psc_working_papers&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D4%26sqi%3D2%26ved%3D0CEEQFjAD%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Frepository.upenn.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1000%2526context%253Dpsc_working_papers%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Ddeaths%2520by%2520rank%2520in%2520Iraw%2520and%2520Afghanitan%26ei%3DQAeSTqbMMYiltwfjpvSHDA%26usg%3DAFQjCNGwfVq1ubJusyLoQu72R7iOepBz0g%26sig2%3DPqxbeg0852-sVDIXG6Cm0A#search=%22deaths%20by%20rank%20Iraw%20Afghanitan%22
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