Re: Kerry Votes
People who chide Senator Kerry for not rubber stamp voting yes on anything labeled defense
miss an important point about good governance.
It is the same problem as when someone runs for political office on a platform of "I'm not a Tax
and Spend politician." If that is so, why do I send you to do a job where you are supposed to
TAX WISELY AND SPEND WISELY?
I cannot imagine any part of government action where spending wisely is more important than
defense. We do not have unlimited resources to spend on government programs (including
defense), nor does anyone want to spend as if we do. Didn't President Dwight D. Eisenhower
warn us of this issue in his farewell address?
Crises there will continue to be. In meeting them, whether foreign or domestic,
great or small, there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and
costly action could become the miraculous solution to all current difficulties. A
huge increase in newer elements of our defense....
But each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the
need to maintain balance in and among national programs-balance between the
private and the public economy, balance between cost and hoped for advantage-
balance between the clearly necessary and the comfortably desirable; balance
between our essential requirements as a nation and the duties imposed by the
nation upon the individual; balance between action of the moment and the
national welfare of the future. Good judgment seeks balance and progress; lack of
it eventually finds imbalance and frustration.
A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must
be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted
to risk his own destruction.
Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any of my
predecessors in peace time, or indeed by the fighting men of World War II or
Korea.
Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments
industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make
swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of
national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments
industry of vast proportions....
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry
is new in the American experience. The total influence-economic, political, even
spiritual-is felt in every city, every state house, every office of the Federal
government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must
not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood
are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of
unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial
complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will
persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or
democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted only an alert and
knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of huge industrial and
military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that
security and liberty may prosper together.
source: Dwight D. Eisenhower's Farewell Address Military Industrial Complex
http://www.eisenhower.utexas.edu/farewell.htm
So, Kerry voted no on some programs? Good. He voted yes on some? Good. He voted for
some but not the conference version? Good. He voted against some and then yes on the
conference version? Good. That is what you send someone to Washington to do.
Next, have you examined the Bush campaign ad "Wacky" complaining about Kerry voting for a
tax on gasoline. This ad shows how the President must have found a method in the National
Guard for passing classes in addition to getting out of duty. Basic economic principles, taught in
the first course one takes in economics, state clearly that the impact of the government placing a
tax on a good will decrease the quantity of that good demanded by consumers. Let's go to the
Bush campaign ad:
NARRATOR: "Some people have wacky ideas. Like taxing gasoline more so
people drive less. That's John Kerry."
source: GeorgeWBush.com : Bush-Cheney '04 Ad Facts - "Wacky"
http://www.georgewbush.com/KerryMediaCenter/Read.aspx?ID=2381
That's not just John Kerry, that's basic economic principles! On this one, President Bush
receives an"F" since he personally approved the ad.
These are but two examples that show the Bush administration promoting poor governance in the
pursuit of political gain. But I think you know that already.
People who chide Senator Kerry for not rubber stamp voting yes on anything labeled defense
miss an important point about good governance.
It is the same problem as when someone runs for political office on a platform of "I'm not a Tax
and Spend politician." If that is so, why do I send you to do a job where you are supposed to
TAX WISELY AND SPEND WISELY?
I cannot imagine any part of government action where spending wisely is more important than
defense. We do not have unlimited resources to spend on government programs (including
defense), nor does anyone want to spend as if we do. Didn't President Dwight D. Eisenhower
warn us of this issue in his farewell address?
Crises there will continue to be. In meeting them, whether foreign or domestic,
great or small, there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and
costly action could become the miraculous solution to all current difficulties. A
huge increase in newer elements of our defense....
But each proposal must be weighed in the light of a broader consideration: the
need to maintain balance in and among national programs-balance between the
private and the public economy, balance between cost and hoped for advantage-
balance between the clearly necessary and the comfortably desirable; balance
between our essential requirements as a nation and the duties imposed by the
nation upon the individual; balance between action of the moment and the
national welfare of the future. Good judgment seeks balance and progress; lack of
it eventually finds imbalance and frustration.
A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must
be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted
to risk his own destruction.
Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any of my
predecessors in peace time, or indeed by the fighting men of World War II or
Korea.
Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments
industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make
swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of
national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments
industry of vast proportions....
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry
is new in the American experience. The total influence-economic, political, even
spiritual-is felt in every city, every state house, every office of the Federal
government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must
not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood
are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of
unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial
complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will
persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or
democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted only an alert and
knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of huge industrial and
military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that
security and liberty may prosper together.
source: Dwight D. Eisenhower's Farewell Address Military Industrial Complex
http://www.eisenhower.utexas.edu/farewell.htm
So, Kerry voted no on some programs? Good. He voted yes on some? Good. He voted for
some but not the conference version? Good. He voted against some and then yes on the
conference version? Good. That is what you send someone to Washington to do.
Next, have you examined the Bush campaign ad "Wacky" complaining about Kerry voting for a
tax on gasoline. This ad shows how the President must have found a method in the National
Guard for passing classes in addition to getting out of duty. Basic economic principles, taught in
the first course one takes in economics, state clearly that the impact of the government placing a
tax on a good will decrease the quantity of that good demanded by consumers. Let's go to the
Bush campaign ad:
NARRATOR: "Some people have wacky ideas. Like taxing gasoline more so
people drive less. That's John Kerry."
source: GeorgeWBush.com : Bush-Cheney '04 Ad Facts - "Wacky"
http://www.georgewbush.com/KerryMediaCenter/Read.aspx?ID=2381
That's not just John Kerry, that's basic economic principles! On this one, President Bush
receives an"F" since he personally approved the ad.
These are but two examples that show the Bush administration promoting poor governance in the
pursuit of political gain. But I think you know that already.
posted by Mike at 1:19 PM
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