Protecting the world for a less educated America…
87 Billion dollars. Our president asked for this amount of money earlier this year. An increase for military spending. Spending to support actions within the borders of Iraq.
These dollars have secured the capture of Sadaam Hussein, enemy of freedom. With his capture has come the capture of his military leaders: Generals, Captains, and other various officers. Yet no Bin Laden. So our soldiers, blue collar American soldiers, remain in another continent’s desert.
Like the red scare of the early 20th century, the fear of chatter has brought suspicion into the homes of the U.S.A. The government wishes to increase the strength of the Patriot Act. We need protection from our enemies. We need protection that is unattainable without government intervention.
We need to be more educated.
With education Americans are able to come to reasonable and rational concepts. We are able to decide for ourselves what is a threat around us. But like a democratic endorsed welfare system, the Republican Party needs finances for the “War on Terror.” Money keeps the war machine oiled; and oil seems to be beneath the whole affair.
But the $87 Billion dollars asked by the Republican based American president, to support this “War on Terror,” what money tree are these dollars being pumped off of?
Tax dollars? The United States is in a bit of a recession. Tax dollars are in short supply as American corporations are not turning a major profit. Let us not forget that Republican based policy continually and historically gives tax relief to “big business.”
With this knowledge in place, where do the funds - the $87 Billion dollars of blue collar pocket change - derive from?
Look in your local public school system. Ask any college student who is having difficulty supporting themself while attempting to become more educated. $65 Billion dollars has been removed from the publicly financed education system in the year of 2003. Those are dollars that were “ear-marked” for the future.
The future of any society is located in the hearts and minds of the youth. Without a basic sense of self worth, learning becomes difficult. Without adequate school facilities, and an adequate number of educators, self worth can dwindle. The individual thoughts and inspiration of a student will seem more amazing in a classroom of 20 when measured against a student hidden within a classroom of 30. Yet education is suffering because of the “War on Terrorism.”
An answer with concrete substance such as the overthrowing of Sadaam Hussein, though lined with undertones of terroristic threat, is more tangible to grasp than the images of an America that can not read or add at a twelfth grade level.
Even today, Universities are increasing the number of remedial math classes offered. The 4 year college student is now the 5 year college student. One year is being added to learn what should have already been taught. Yes, I am sure it was taught. But with increased classroom sizes comes increased impetuses.
Suffer the American classroom, suffer the fate of a less intelligent future. At least the number of available blue collar volunteer soldiers will increase. Let the machine continue being oiled.
