El Pit wrote on Aug 7, 2012, 12:45:
Matshock, I see what you mean, and you're right about a lot of things. No president will be able to balance the budget EVER AGAIN. That case is lost. The US still has to pay billions for GWB's stupid war in Iraq. The Afghanistan war is expensive, too, but was necessary. The downside is, that the Afghanistan war is lost. Alexander the Great experienced this, the Russians experienced this, and now the USA and the Coalition Forces experience this.
About giving money to the banks: what would have been the alternative? A sooner end of quick money captialism? I doubt anybody with half a brain would want this. And no matter whether the name of the next PotUS will be Obama or Romney, the next glorious leader will have to throw even more money after the already burnt money. I'm afraid (REALLY afraid) that what we see is the end of the western way of life, not only in the US, but also in Europe. If this happens, our world will change in a way Obama didn't intend it. And it won't be a change for good.
I understand why we were in Iraq (now back in Kuwait)- look at a map; look at Iraq, now look at Afganistan, now look what is right in between them. But you're right otherwise- it was a fool's errand to think we can do what has wrecked so many empires in the past. UBL is dead, call the troops home.
IMO though it's the welfare state that is the poison pill of Western
Civilization, especially the USA. We can go on without empire, not without liberty and the unifying causes of gainful work and family.
This comment was edited on Aug 7, 2012, 13:10.