Bring 'Em Home
America, the U.S.of A. to be precise, was founded to be a constitutional democratic republic. Where people had rights to "life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness" as Thomas Jefferson put it in the Declaration of Independence. Not an empire, which is what president Eisenhower was talkin' about when he warned of a military industrial complex. Unfortunately his worst fear was realized 'cos that's what's happened to the dream of America: a damned empire 'stead of a constitutional democratic republic.
Democracy is for, by and of the people. Not just a privileged few, nor a middle class majority. All adults, regardless of background, have the same civil, and therefore legal, rights; and responsibilities for children and their rights:a level playin' field in effect. Since there are too many of us to sit around in a circle and each one of us have our say we have representatives speak for us. That's where republic comes in, representative government. Democracy is representative government of, for and by the people. That's the idea of it anyway even though the practice of it is a different story.
The constitution of a democratic republic sets forth the rules of the game for a level playin' field: fundamental principles of fair play for all and the means to achieve same thru organizational bodies and law.
The "Declaration of Independence" declared the fundamental principle of freedom from empire not just externally but internally as well. An American empire is the antithesis of the intent of "The Declaration of Independence"; the Constitution which followed was meant to protect 'gainst empire at home and abroad. The "Bill of Rights" clarified and expanded ideas and principles of the "Constitution" , layin' the groundwork for the civil rights act almost 200 years later.
It took that long to get to where we could make a true start in buildin' the dream Martin Luther King expressed so eloquently. For those of us who believe we're in the struggle of our lives for the soul of America: whether we'll "die by a thousand cuts" because we're behavin' as an empire puttin' troops in countries where they don't belong, are not welcome despite propaganda to the contrary. Troops are bein' sacrificed to protect investors who are Scroogian in their desires for profit and don't give a damn about the Tiny Tim's.
Addicted to cheap labor and don't give a damn about laborers and their families. That behavior is anti-christ as all hell. Yet these liars and hypocrites dress themselves in the garb of God and family values. The proper role of church and state is to serve the family. That idea expressed by a priest from Mayo, Ireland,a fr. Peyton I believe. Then we wouldn't have the sorry spectacle of hungry and sick kids, disabled folks losin' their benefits all so business can have cheap labor and make obscene profits. That value system has produced a scam market.
The value system of "business needs to pay a livin' wage" is based on conscience and would result in a free and stable market. Which is why we should bring our troops home, dismantle this empire which is ruinous, and all of us so inclined continue to build a constitutional democratic republic. Grounded in the idea of a livin' wage, which is enlightened capitalism, and throw off the shackles of cheap labor/wage slavery by overcomin' landlord entrepreneurial Golden Calf idolatrous capitalism.