Stay at home . . .and mind your own business

. . . was once upon a time considered sound advice and good policy.  It wasn’t always followed, but it was always prudent instruction.  I want to make it clear that I love the USA, but I am weary with the stupidity and foolishness of our elected representatives.

I am wondering why the good old USA has failed so miserably in this generation to heed that sound advice.  Why are we so prone toward globetrotting and sticking our nose into everything?  Why is it that our leaders feel so compelled to control events across the globe . . . and to manipulate others nations?  Who wants a neighbor or friend, for that matter, who behaves in such a manner?  I certainly do not, nor do I know anyone who does.  Nosey people, bossy people, control freaks, and meddling people . . . are just a pain in the neck and we find ourselves shuddering when we see them approach our door.  Nations are the same . . . and the truth is that we have a long history of failures in world events, and have a terrible history as a neighbor. There have been times in history when we should have done something because it was right . . . and we just failed to do so (e. g. the Holocaust).  Yet, there have been many times that we have stuck our nose in world events when we were wrong and would have done better to just have stayed home and looked after our own business.  It just makes me sick that our beloved Nation is so disrespected and even hated around the world . . . but I know exactly what has caused it.

Think about where we are at this moment in history and you will discover that this . . . is just such a time when we would do well to follow that instruction! At home, our economy is a wreck and a large percentage of our work-force is suffering as we have many (even those having advanced degrees) forced to turn to government-assistance programs and Churches to help feed their families because they are unable to find a job.  We see widespread dislike and distrust of our government and our respect for elected officials is at an all-time low.  In spite of all that, our nationally-elected representative are not trying to correct the situation and do what is right for the American People.

This is the early days of September, 2013, and there are only a few more days left in this Federal Fiscal year. The Congress has scheduled only 9-work days in September . . . and they are miles away from approving a budget and funding the federal government (just as they have for several years).  We see this same irresponsible and foolish cycle year after year . . . where failed financial policies and failed budget agreements . . . collide and are escalated into a crisis situation . . . which forces approval of some crazy emergency continuing resolution.  Even then, unknown to the people, attached to that emergency resolution, is a long list of crazy pork-barrel projects that are not needed and we simply can’t afford.

Our military is heavily involved in two nations, far from home . . . Iraq and Afghanistan.  Both are at great cost in lives, dollars, and sacrifice.  The really sad part this is that the American people don’t have a clue why we are there in those strange places, or why our people and resources are being used there.

In spite of all of that being true, this week the energy is being sucked out of our Nation’s Capital in a wild and crazy debate . . . a debate over us . . . once again sticking our big, homely nose into another nation’s civil way . . . this time in Syria.

Dark clouds are forming around the globe as this debate amongst our elected representatives continues over a possible military attack on Syria of all things!  It just seems that they don’t care what others around the world are saying, even worse, they are simply ignoring the American people who have been quite clear about any such action.  They are also disregarding reports from our own military leaders who warn that the budget battles, two wars, and the economy have left our military far stretched and weakened.  They have clearly said that any involvement in Syria would leave us unable to prevent a nuclear Iran.

The Administration alleges that on August 21, Syrian President, Bashan Assad, used chemical weapons against forces attempting to overthrow his administration and killed over 1,400 civilians.  However, much of the rest of the world claims that the major combat force of the Syrian rebels is part of Al Qaeda, the sworn enemy of the USA.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been Assad’s most powerful ally and has protected him through a series of UN security resolutions.  Putin has openly said that any military action against Syria without U.N. support would be illegal and viewed by Russia as “aggression.”  To add some muscle to his statements, Russia is sending a missile cruiser to the east Mediterranean Sea.  That ship, Moskva, will be joined by a destroyer from Russia’s Baltic fleet and a frigate from the Black Sea fleet.

Putin has openly and publicly called U. S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, a liar over Kerry’s denial of AL Qaeda-allied group’s involvement in the civil war.  The truth is that there have been people calling Secretary Kerry a liar for many years, and for a variety of reasons.  The greater truth is that it simply doesn’t matter who the rebel forces in Syria are . . . it is simply none of our business and we ought to butt out.

In spite of it all . . . just this week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 10 to 7 to authorize “limited use of US armed forces against Syria” . . . Good Grief, what are they thinking?

It just seems to me . . . that one of these day’s these folks might just get us into some really hot water.  I believe that we should stay home and take care of our own business for once, and Heaven knows that we do, in fact, have a great deal of unfinished business . . . business that is in desperate need of somebody’s attention.  I suspect that any involvement in that civil war in Syria might just be the . . . proverbial straw and the camel’s back.

Isn’t it just tragic that we have allowed wicked and foolish people to squander our precious resources with their foolishness and meddling?  We could have accomplished so much good in the world, and we could have been a true inspiration to small struggling nations.  It is actually quite sad.  It is also tragic that they just never learn.  It is the vicious cycle . . .

Solomon said, “It is all foolishness.”  From rural America it sure looks like foolishness to me!

 

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