Rational Nation USA

Rational Nation USA Purveyor of Truth Any Republicans who vote against higher defense spending should be fired "There is overwhelming support in our conference for providing additional resources to protect our national security," House Speaker John Boehner declared at his weekly press conference last week, and with that the gauntlet was thrown down. There will be a vote in the House, just has there have now been votes in the Senate, that are going to separate the GOP into the heirs of Ronald Reagan and his "peace through strength" beliefs and the hangers-on who have never understood that all they prize in terms of liberty, small government and federalism depends first and foremost on an American military that is not only larger than any other two, or five or ten combined next largest militaries, but one equal to the unique and essential task of bringing order to a chaotic and increasingly out-of-control world . Emphasis mine Small government grinds who p...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation U S A Purveyor of Truth Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced plans today for major defense policy reform. The reported plan includes a plank that would shrink U.S. Army active duty personnel to what the New York Times called “pre-World War II levels .” For those who understand that the Cold War is over and the realities of modern warfare have change significantly this announcement should be a welcome one. However, there is certain to be a huge outcry by the pro MIC and pro war advocates that the Obama administration is gutting America's military and the nation's defense capabilities. Nothing could be further from the truth. The statement that the defense policy reform plan will result in a return to pre-World War II levels is not completely factual. So, before signing onto some political right wing knee jerk reaction take the time to check out the factual information that is available for those with inquisitive minds. In a nut...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny 50 years after President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his farewell address, newly discovered documents show that the speech was nearly two years in the making. The family of Eisenhower speechwriter Malcolm Moos discovered the documents in a family cabin and donated them to the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum. The papers show that Eisenhower was deeply involved in crafting one of the most famous speeches in American history in which he warned the nation of the growing power of the "military-industrial complex." Presidential historian (and Foundation for the National Archives board member) Michael Beschloss and Eisenhower Library director Karl Weissenbach discuss the evolution of the speech. And in the fifty first year following President Eisenhower's historic speech the Military Industrial Complex continues to grow. In the never ending cycle of perpetuating the myth that unless we continue to...

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -vs- Tyranny There is just something I don't understand about the big "R" republicans. Getting our fiscal house in order, and restoring constitutional governance should be of the highest order. Yet the party that ought to be concerned with how we spend the people's money seems more concerned with telling us all how we should live our lives and creating the invisible boogeymen the party wants us all should fear. The Hill - The House voted Thursday to override steep cuts to the Pentagon’s budget mandated by last summer's debt deal and replace them with spending reductions to food stamps and other mandatory social programs. While doomed in the Senate and opposed by the White House, the legislation, which would reduce the deficit by $243 billion, is a Republican marker for post-election budget talks with the White House. Members approved the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act in a party-line 218-199 vote....

by: Les Carpenter Rational Nation USA Liberty -v s -Tyranny Supreme Commander , Allied Forces WW II. President of the United States of America 1953 - 1961. A man of reason by choice. A man of war by necessity. Ultimately a leader with vision. Fast forward to today. It seems our nation continually finds itself involved in conflict across the globe. Conflicts that in the final analysis have largely been by choice. The United States spends more on the "defense" of our nation than the the total of the next seventeen nations who follow us in military spending . The eighteen countries with the largest military budgets. See table below for actual dollar amounts. It is clear that the United States has willingly assumed the role of "world policeman" and "protector of those in need of support." The cost to our nation has been staggering. Now to the point of this post. The "Supercommitte" that was given the responsibility of finding 1.2 ...