Spending grandkids' money — on Iraq

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http://www.lufkindailynews.com/news/content/shared/news/stories/2007/06/YOUNG_COLUMN_0622_COX.html

By JOHN YOUNG
Cox News Service
Friday, June 22, 2007

WACO, Texas — Reader Lola Hopper had this to say after another staggering authorization of cash for America's ongoing military nightmare, the four-letter word that is Iraq.

"The billions of dollars {President Bush} has requested to save face would be better spent ensuring that our children don't go to bed every night hungry, that veterans of previous wars do not have to sleep on the streets and that the mentally and physically ill have access to affordable health care."

Well, that's a matter of opinion, of course. Some people don't want government helping people that way, or any way. It's too bad, however, that what we are doing today will take such options out of our grandchildren's hands.

When they spread the assets on the kitchen table, and the debits include hundreds of billions of dollars in deferred charges for invading and attempting to stabilize and reconstruct Iraq, they'll rub their eyes.

They'll be unable to do things they think government ought with available resources, or they'll have to raise taxes to pay for all of the government their grandparents bought on credit.

You might believe with every ounce of your being that every penny spent on Iraq is well spent. So might your grandchildren.

They'll still wonder why you didn't pay for it.

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1. K&R n/t

[patrice]

2. "... why we didn't pay for it"?

Because we have to pay for our Hummers instead - AND - get that big tax write-off.
Because we have to keep our homes at a constant 70 degrees 4-5+ months of the year, during 90+ degree weather.
Because we have to buy jet skis and power boats to roar around any available body of water or ATVs to go off road wherever we have the notion to.
Because we have to spend $300+ per weekend of pro-sports for often mediocre, self-centered, sometimes criminal professional "athletes".
Because we have to keep a minimum of two, or more, cars per household, since we refuse to pay taxes for mass transit and we must NEVER walk anywhere, not even in mall/shopping strip parking lots.
Because we have to pay $40, or more, for 6 months a year for Chem-lawn and $n+ for water for same.
Because our kids MUST wear nothing but "designer" name-brands.
Because we have to have pedigreed dogs that cost from several hundred to thousands of dollars and that doesn't even include vet bills, dog social clubs, and training.
Because we must have a MINIMUM of 3,000 sq ft to live in with as many BIG windows as we want, even on the north side of same.
Because we must at least tithe to the church of our choice, so our "friends" will continue to accept us and share god$ ble$$ing$ with us.
Because we must be able to go to the casinos, take cruises, have plastic surgery, or bust enhancement whenever we want to.
Because we must have the biggest cable package available on the biggest HD TV available, with the latest game system available and its full library of games that are available.
Because we must put-on weddings costing at least $10,000. for any of our daughters.
Because our children must NOT work their way through college.
Because we must buy battery powered mini-cars for our little-ones to get around our neighborhood sidewalks.
Because . . .

And that's just the Middle Class!!!

This is Amerika, where if you can have it, you also have a "right" to it, whatever it is.

Love America? Yes! I do! love this Land and People - BUT - "our" culture is Fucked.