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I'm looking forward to the post where you explain to your kid that Obama isn't proposing free healthcare and is only proposing opening up the federal plans to all citizens to buy into.
Also the post where you explain to him that both the Iraqi PM and President Bush have essentially proposed the same deadline for leaving Iraq as Senator Obama.
Without being too personal I wonder if, should we still be occupying Iraq in 8 years as a result of a McCain/Palin win, you'd encourage your son to enlist in the army as an infantryman?
Dan,
Regarding that last question, he's a pretty sharp kid. I'd probably encourage him to try the Academy route.
So you're saying your kid is too smart to do the things that you want the president to order other people's kids to do?
I assume that you did explain to him that both of his perceptions of Obama are wrong, right? Surely you wouldn't want to perpetuate the GOP's reputation for depending on ignorance in order to glean votes?
Amusingly, if your son *does* join the armed forces he will be covered medically under the exact same coverage completely free plan that that commie Obama wants to open up for normal citizens to buy into.
I've always found it incongruous that the staunchly anti-socialist GOP is so pro-military. As a military brat who grew up on military bases and posts around the world I can assure you that military life resembles nothing so much as an idealized version of Leninist Communism.
Healthcare and education are free, enormous government expenditures are made for recreation and leisure for public(military) use at highly discounted prices, and we even have party leaders (flag officers) getting special privileges. Career guys/gals can retire with only 20 years on the job and get a pension of about 75% of the average of their top three earning years for life, plus free Healthcare forever.
I can't complain though, we had the whole family out to Hawaii last year and stayed in a Navy-owned six bedroom bungalow ocean side. Cost us $75/night. Oh you delicious, delicious socialism.
Dan,
That's not socialism. It is a risk/reward system. Ultimately, we only have one life to give, and all those "special privileges" are part of the benefits of a military job. As a taxpayer, I don't have any problem paying for those services. I can serve, or I can pay for those whose serve. Neither part works without the other.
I don't think my son is "too smart" to enlist. I'm not sure I understand what's wrong with encouraging him to apply to an Academy. I would encourage any other kid to do the same.
I hate to break it to you Mario but the military is about 90% support and administrative jobs. Most of those guys and gals are in more danger commuting to work than they are actually at work. With the recent exceptions of the Bush Sr and Bush Jr administrations even most infantrymen go through their whole four year enlistments without seeing combat. Additionally, those who take the least risk see the most reward (anyone over the rank of Captain is very unlikely to be within 5 miles of any actual combat.) Your claim that it is a risk/reward system is absolutely specious.
I don't think you really understand how the military works. In reality the vast majority of those seeing combat are Army and Marine infantrymen who come from the lowest rung of the US's economic spectrum. They're promised a way out of that with free education and limited enlistment periods. Unfortunately for them, the President can arbitrarily decided to invade and occupy a foreign country for no reason and refuse to allow them to leave after their enlistment period is up.
There's a reason that, for the first time since the 1960's, the majority of the military favors the Democratic candidate for president. Its because the GOP has finally been exposed on their double-talk about the military. They spend whole election cycles fetishizing the troops, but then they abuse them through extending their enlistment periods in order to occupy a country that doesn't want us there. Then, when it comes time to care for the wounded and crippled or improve education benefits that's just too much money. They even seek to have (racial minority) soldiers removed from the voter rolls because they're not currently residents of their registered mailing address - because they're off fighting Bush's war for him (this is called "caging", and it's illegal).
Here's the point where I remind you that John McCain, war hero, voted against the new GI Bill because he thought the added benefits would be too tempting for soldiers and cause them to not re-enlist and instead try to reach the middle class.
Given your dodging of the question I assume you haven't told your son that he's wrong about Obama. Why are you promoting ignorance in your own offspring? Does political ideology really matter more to you than having your own son know the truth?
Ok Mario, so you and I have rarely agreed, however we share much in common. My oldest child is also 10, Amanda, and she is quite politically active and interested as well. Like my father, I insist that my kids watch the conventions of both parties and the debates so that they are informed and can choose their own party when the time comes (Dad was a republican, I became a democrat, and I am keenly aware that this may be an area where my kids exercize rebellion.)But for now, Amanda is in the Obama corner. If your son were to give her the example you cited about health care, my daughter would have responded with something to the effect of, "Well my parents pay over $850 a month in health insurance premiums, and I would rather they pay more for taxes than they are now and my friend and his mom have health insurance, too." She is a smart kid, too, and I am very proud of her.
I am proud of you too, Mario, for showing your strenght and integrity in denouncing the disappointing statements made by your county chair and the foolish bailout plan presented by the national leadership. Kudos to you, and remember, there is always room for you in our tent!
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