I am writing a post – nearly finished – on a different subject than the United States, but wish to take a moment to write about the crisis in the Middle East and the electoral campaign.

The Crisis in the Middle East

I could be very wrong, but as you know from previous posts, it would be my opinion that the current strikes in Syria will not help solve the present crisis in the Middle East.

• The drone strikes may lead to the death of several civilians, including a large number of children.
• The drone strikes are a form of retaliation, and retaliation invites retaliation. It never ends. The crisis could spiral out of control.
• Moreover, the drone strikes will no doubt be seen as further meddling on the part of the United States in the Middle East, which it isn’t. It is a mission to save detainees and disable the militants.
• They may endanger the lives of Americans on their native soil: retaliation.
• They may endanger the life of the detainees and cause the militants to torture them.
• They harm the environment.
• But, most importantly, retaliation is what Isis wanted. Isis can use the drone strikes as their lame excuse for beheading innocent detainees.

Having said the above, I need acknowledge that I lack detailed information on the crisis in the Middle East. Leaders cannot divulge all the facts and their strategy to civilians. 

The American Arsenal 

I should note that the American arsenal is so large that this can lead to rather false demands on the American people and its President. I should also note that the military respects the President, which may be a factor in the decision to use blind strikes. This matter is complicated, but when one has had to dodge attacks for six years, a small degree of erosion is to be expected.

With respect to the crisis in the Middle East, personally, I would use the best  intelligence available and send in the dog squad. Dogs can sniff the clothes of the detainees and then find their whereabouts. Isis militants are little more than rebels who have found a “cause.” They are giving Islam a bad reputation. Nothing justifies the terror Isis spreads.

See “The Dog Squad,” The New Yorker http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/video-the-dog-squad

The Electoral Campaign

Myopic and systematic opposition

ignoring the decision of the American people

 

The Republicans have more money than the Democrats and there is, on the part of hardline Republicans, a significant degree of systematic and myopic opposition, bordering on hatred, towards President Obama and his administration.

Ignoring the American People’s Choice

In this respect, hardline Republicans have been ignoring the choice of the American nation. Barack Obama was voted to the Presidency of the United States on 4 November 2008, and President Obama was re-elected to the Presidency on 6 November 2012.

Moreover, the cause of these hardline Republican representatives is cancellation of the Affordable Care Act, voted into law on 23 March 2010, four years ago. Hardline Republicans are anti-tax extremists.

Respecting the Voice of the People

• Given that the citizens of the United States voted Barack Obama to the Presidency of their Country, hardline Republicans have been ignoring the decision of the people.
• Given also that President Obama is the President of the United States, he and members of his administration should be allowed to play their role.
• President Obama must listen to the Republicans, but first and foremost, he must listen to the voice of the people and respect policies he announced.
• Suing President Obama is picayune and, dare I say, mean. Nor is it legitimate to impeach him for frivolous reasons: tax cuts for the wealthy and the revocation of the Affordable Care Act.
• A country is dysfunctional if its citizens do not pay their fair share of taxes in return for social programmes that protect them and other essential services. There are means of keeping costs lower. In short, American citizens should not forfeit their right to a reasonable degree of security at all times.

Buying one’s way to office, including the Presidency

• Political Parties cannot conduct a campaign without the money to travel, to stay in a hotel, to buy meals on the campaign trail and to advertise to a reasonable degree.
• However, money should not be the chief tool leading to political office. One should not be able to buy his or her way into office.

Voter Suppression

• Moreover, in no way should hardline and greedy Republicans engage in voter suppression. Has the United States ceased to be a democracy?

The Minimum Wage & Debt Bondage

Mr. Boehner has stated that he would commit suicide if the minimum wage was raised. When determining the minimum wage, the cost of living is the standard one uses.

Forcing people into debt is creating a form of bondage: debt bondage. Mr. Boehner’s language is that of a potential slave-owner. Mr. Boehner may therefore need to commit suicide, which, metaphorically speaking, is a fait accompli.

Allow me to close by quoting the American Declaration of Independence:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” (The American Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson.)

Conclusion

If I were an American citizen, I would still support President Obama fully. He could not foresee Isis, as these are rebels who have seized on what they saw as an opportunity to kill. Isis is a group of bloodthisty terrorists.

With kindest regards to all of you.

Sources

• Drone Strikes: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/23/us-justification-drone-killing-american-citizen-awlaki
• The New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/opinion/the-beleaguered-middle-class-wealth-erased.html?_r=0
• Minimum Wage: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/198856-boehner-id-rather-kill-myself-than-raise-the-minimum-wage
• The Dog Sqad: http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/video-the-dog-squad

—ooo—

Adagio for Strings

Samuel Barber (9 March 1910 – 23 January 1981)

 

© Micheline Walker

October 12, 2014

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