Hunter, Bilbray, and Issa urged to cut defense spending
The debate in Washington affects all of us here in San Diego. We are dealing with cut backs in funding for teachers, police and fire safety.
One big way that Congressmen Hunter, Bilbray and Issa and Congress can address the escalating deficit and debt is to cut the Pentagon budget by at least $1 trillion over the next ten years. If the federal government keeps increasing spending on wars and military contractors, then there will be even less money available for other urgent priorities here in our city.
Jennifer Spencer
San Diego
Why we all occupy Wall Street
From a social-psychological view the national manifestations on Wall Street are a result of the piano man versus cop syndrome or creativity and obedience. More simply, the protest can be described as inherent to society’s pressure valve of conflict and order.
So, what’s new? We have been down this road for the past ten thousand plus years. But, here’s the twist. As members of the human species, we are genetically programmed to resist. It remains a false notion to feign control since everyone squirms while led to the gallows. Some events of the 1960’s illustrate this point. America was polarized by conflict and order. Just ask Lt. Calley and Commander Loyld Bucker. As for Mr. Calley, the ringleader of the massacre at Mai Lai in Vietnam, his immoral and illegal actions were in large measure condoned by the law and order folks. This is not control. The same mentality stood silent with respect to our National Guard’s slaughter of students at Kent State. This is not control. And why was Commander Bucker vilified by the same illogical notion of law and order in regard to North Koreas’ taking of the Navy Vessel Pueblo? This is not control.
The protesters have morally legitimate concerns just as those before them, naming Martin Luther King Jr. Bobby Kennedy and Cesar Chavez. When captains of industry and corporate giants including America’s largest banks kick us in the teeth while on our knees there evolves a natural human response. As with the US Automakers, our largest banks were saved by the federal government only to turn immorally on the same folks that saved them. This is not control. When one is powerless and consumed by injustice, we all suffer the trappings of immorality. Only the fools among us believe in order and control. When the tables are turned, we all are in the same boat. May the protesters bring justice to our great nation.
Daniel J. Smiechowski
San Diego