Which Choice Would You Make?

America is going broke. People by the millions are losing their homes, their jobs, their life savings, their medical insurance and what remains of their self-esteem. These are families in crisis!

The result is that increasing numbers of families are living day to day in cheap motels and increasingly they are being forced to live on the streets. Food banks are overwhelmed by the unparalled numbers of desperate people coming to them.

Charities and shelters are trying to help but their donations have been cut sharply because many donors are struggling and can't afford to donate as much money as they used to.

States and local governments are short of money for schools, homeless shelters, parks, libraries, judicial systems and prisons and to pay unemployment benefits. They are being forced to make difficult choices and to raise taxes.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military occupation of Iraq continues as America spends $120 billion a year there! Money it is has to borrow. And for what? What can possibly be gained by continuing that war for anyone but military contractors, oil companies and grave diggers?

Now President Obama is escalating the Afghanistan war, and aggressively expanding it in Pakistan as well. Its costing many billions of dollars more and that number is growing fast. Once again, America is borrowing the money. And for what? Here comes yet another open ended war, involving two nations in addition to Iraq.

To provide the thousands of troops the U.S. needs, it pays premium rates to groups like Blackwater, and to save money, sends the National Guard for repeated tours.

When the National Guard goes, often they are people who enlisted thinking they'd do brief emergency support functions in America, such as helping flood victims or assisting police. But in war some are killed or severely injured, and because of their lengthy tours of duty, many lose their jobs and can no longer support their families.

Of course while this is going on, there is plenty of money for bailouts of corporate and banking giants. However grossly mis-managed they have been, they can still afford high priced lobbyists to protect their interests.

So which choices would you make? It's not an academic question. It's your money that's being spent, and much more money is being borrowed in your name in affect pledging your future welfare and that of your family.

Your voice counts. You can be silent or you can appeal to logic and compassion and demand a "change" in U.S. government policies and priorities. Either way, what you do will make a difference.

Dick