“America has spent nearly $6 trillion in the war on terror. The cost to the countries we broke is incalculable. We have lost nearly 7,000 in combat and have returned at least 350,000 mentally and physically damaged veterans.” But sure, let’s have a parade. https://t.co/7VoMskNJtu
— The American Conservative (@amconmag) July 4, 2019
“America has spent nearly $6 trillion in the war on terror. The cost to the countries we broke is incalculable. We have lost nearly 7,000 in combat and have returned at least 350,000 mentally and physically damaged veterans.”
But sure, let’s have a parade.
Happy 4th of July.
Mike “Mish” Shedlock
Have a Happy, Safe 4th of July: Besides Independence, What do Parades Celebrate?
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14 comments on Have a Happy, Safe 4th of July: Besides Independence, What do Parades Celebrate?
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Thanks for Tuning In!
Mish
When OBL and Co attacked us, we responded in the wrong way and it has immeasurably hurt our nation and our democracy.
Politician/Chickenhawks, who exist in both parties, went to war in Iraq that had bupkis to do with 9-11. As a citizen and veteran, I have nothing but disgust at these self-styled experts without portfolio who are always clamoring for war or intervention yet never served but are all too happy to send you or your loved ones to war.
We live in a time of sunshine patriotism (U.S.A.! , U.S.A.! …) and as a nation are about as dysfunctional as imaginable, coasting on momentum and eating our seed corn.
Considering how much money the US spends on its military, I was particularly disappointed at how few assets were on display. The Russians, Chinese, and even the broke North Koreans put more troops and equipment on the streets for their annual parades. Remember Kennedy and his “missile gap?” Well, we have a serious parade gap between us and our ostensible enemies, and Mr. Trump needs urgently to do something about it !
It’s been wet in the DC area and I hope Trump’s fireworks display gets washed out. And most of the people who live in the DC area deserve to suffer.
I live in a small (5,000 folks) in Montana. We had our usual 4th parade. Fire trucks, Sheriff’s vehicles, local businesses advertising their goods and services. Pickup trucks, high school cheerleaders. Paraders throwing candy and everyone having a good time. Nobody mentioned who was President, interest rates, tariffs, China, or anything other than how grateful we are to be Americans. Happy Independence Day.
On balance the US has done way more good than bad. If you disagree then go live elsewhere. Have a happy 4th.
Sincerely
A legal naturalized citizen.
The US has done more bad than good since … Pick a date or event.
How about the Vietnam war?
But that has nothing to do woith being a great place to live. That it is.
We also trashed Latin America for a couple of decades. Supported Noriega (sp?) until we turned on him, etc, etc. Societal maturity and peace stability is largely not cumulative across generations – and so too for the west. I was reminded of this song:
“The Great Nations of Europe”
Randy Newman
“The great nations of Europe
Had gathered on the shore
They’d conquered what was behind them
And now they wanted more
So they looked to the mighty ocean
And took to the western sea
The great nations of Europe in the sixteenth century
(Refrain)
Hide your wives and daughters
Hide your groceries too
Great nations of Europe coming through
The Grand Canary Islands
First land to which they came
They slaughtered all the canaries
Which gave the land its name
There were natives there called Guanches
Guanches by the score
Bullets, disease, the Portuguese, and they weren’t there anymore
Now they’re gone, they’re gone, they’re really gone
You’ve never seen anyone so gone
They’re a picture in a museum
Some lines written in a book
But you…”
The US still has capital left to burn.
Built up back when it was a free country, pre progressivism. Perhaps, to a declining degree, even during the gradual decline from a free country to just another totalitarian dump, which took place between the founding of The Fed, and the completion of that project with Nixon’s retard moment/Vietnam/”legal” activism what have you.
But that capital is dwindling fast. Being burned, one notch of “asset appreciation” mediated theft at a time. Along with attendant glorification of wealth transfers by arbitrary “legal system” theft/interventions. And by wars and other horrors which are there to cover up the theft rackets, as well as to pacify suitably indoctrinated dunces with references to an America once worth celebrating for being meaningfully different from the likes of Chavez’ Venezuela.
It really depends on your relative perspective. The world is by far a better place since the formation of these United States. If you want to see what a world without the United States looks like go watch Man in the High Castle.
No doubt. But also no reason to assume just applying the “United States” moniker to any old Caudillostan, somehow means it still makes the world meaningfully better.
The world was made better by the US not because it was the US, but because the US was a free country. Once it no longer was/is, it cease(d/s) to as well.
The stock market had it’s best June in 81 years. You know, since the year before rising nationalism helped launch WWII.
Warnings on fireworks are meaningless. The only people eating them are those who have graduated from Tide pods and need a new challenge.
Since people (and I) have big numbers gloss over them I like to put things in a per capita – YOUR SHARE – basis: The “War on Terror” has cost us ~$17, 647 PER PERSON. Think of it this way, you hawked say 75% of a free typical car – for what? Can you still give me the car? No. But you can have some other problems – and no end in site.
“But sure let’s have a parade”
Anyone else notice how the rhetoric from Free Traders and libs is getting more indistinguishable by the day?
God bless America and a grateful thank you to all of you that have served her.