Hatrack River Forum: Why are we still there?

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Posted by JayTaylorWV (Member # 4399) on :

Why are we still there?

It is time to take a very serious look at our
involvement there.

Every day there are news reports about more deaths.
Every night on the TV are photos of death and destruction.
Why are we still there?

The land is too large to secure all of it. The bad
people causing this damage can roam anywhere,
and we can't possibly police the whole place.
Why are we still there?

We occupied this land, which we had to take by force,
but it causes us nothing but trouble.
Why are we still there?

Their government is unstable, and in the process of
changing. Why are we still there?

Refugees are fleeing by the thousands, driven from
their homes. Why are we still there?

It will cost billions to rebuild, which we can't
afford. Why are we still there?

There are more than 1000 religious sects.

We can't even secure the borders.
Why are we still there?

And to repeat. Every day we hear of more Americans
killed in this dangerous land.

It is clear! We must abandon California.

Posted by BYSOAL (Member # 3846) on :

Oh, this is going to go over as well as a Texas execution...

B.Y.S.O.A.L.

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

*sigh*

The newbie WOULD have my last night.

*thwap*

Posted by BYuCnslr (Member # 1857) on :

As a disclaimer, I was against us going before we went. But now that we are there, it isn't as easy as just packing up and hightailing it out of there. We quickly and efficiently distroyed their government, if we leave, we leave with a very large power vacuum that would be very dangerous, and in fact completely harmful to everybody in the region, as well as to us, it'd be Afghanistan all over again, we go, we distroy, we, we leave it and a complete free-for-all occurs, and yet again, more people hate us. Instead we have to stay and finish what we started, we have to somehow rebuild their government, and give them some infrastructure, and do as much as we can to change their view of us so we don't have any more terrorists that are bred by hate of an imperial United States that just leaves distruction in it's path. If we give them schools, give them infrastructure (of course we'd somehow get paid back...possibly in good will and oil) everybody is happy.
Satyagraha

Posted by Slash the Berzerker (Member # 556) on :

And right away you get the people who miss the (albeit pretty lame) joke.

Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :

I DID get it.

I'm wierded out by the whole same last name AND the first letter of the first name.

Posted by BYuCnslr (Member # 1857) on :

SIGH! Of course I got the joke! Terrorists? Rodney King riots? A MOVIE STAR as the governor?!? We've gotta save the country of California!!!!
Satyagraha

Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :

If we are chopping off a part of the U.S., shouldn't we start with Florida? I mean, come on, we may have voted for Ah-nold, but Florida gave us GWB.

Posted by Julie (Member # 5580) on :

It wasn't all of Florida... it was mainly the fact that West Palm Beach can't count.

Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :

What would you have us do? Have a competency test as a poll qualification?

I still remember with fondness the lady who took her kid into the booth and let him punch the ballot.

Posted by Danzig (Member # 4704) on :

A competency test would be nice. Probably unconstitutional, certainly undoable, but nice.

Posted by aspectre (Member # 2222) on :

Even if her kid was doing the actual choosing, that lady was still doing a heck of a LOT more good for her community, showing a heck of a LOT more responsibility, than those who don't vote.

And you underestimate how true "ballots for bullets" is in describing the democratic process, Danzig. There ain't too many folks who can pull a voting machine lever who can't pull a trigger.
If people, regardless of "competency", don't feel that they can vent their feelings and be heard, the frustration produces a society of petty corruption, petty violence, and petty economic sabotage. At the least!
As is, losing votes moderate the choices made by winning politicians. And "there's always next time" calming for folk whose choices didn't win.

[ January 24, 2004, 04:33 PM: Message edited by: aspectre ]

Posted by JonnyNotSoBravo (Member # 5715) on :

quote:
A MOVIE STAR as the governor?!?

If Reagan can do it, why can't Schwarzenegger? Name recognition and looking good is half the battle anyway. [Smile]

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

*dryly* Perhaps because Reagan did it so BADLY? Leaving aside his presidency, we are STILL feeling some of the idiotic things he set into motion. Like what he did to higher education, which far too many governors -- the current one included! -- have followed. [Mad]