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US Mayors – It’s Time to abandon the Empire
Robert Greenwald and Derrick Crowe:
The Afghanistan War costs American taxpayers more than $2 billion a week at a time when communities are falling apart, and our mayors are fed up. On Monday, the United States Conference of Mayors is expected to pass a resolution calling for a speedy end of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars so we can use those funds here at home. The mayors are exactly right.
Read the rest at the above link.
14 Responses to “US Mayors – It’s Time to abandon the Empire”
“Citizens of Lansing, Michigan, paid $114.2 million on the Afghanistan War so far”
I live about 10 miles from Lansing and I can tell you that money would have done considerably more good in Lansing than it has in Afghanistan. If it wasn’t for MSU (East Lansing) and all the state offices here (the capital) Lansing would be a lot more like Flint. In case you don’t know, Flint is a sad story.
Elections really don’t matter. What passes for politics has nothing to do with ideology and everything to do with tribal warfare. We live in a plutocracy where a few powerful men call the shots and it doesn’t matter if the D’s or R’s are in charge. The empire building goes on in spite of widespread opposition. The Republicans make a lot of noise about repealing Obamacare but they won’t because the medical industrial complex needs it because the current system is unsustainable. The court challenges are Kabuki theater because the corporate Supreme Court knows that. Yes it works both ways.
The Conference of Mayors has, in the past, engaged in similar liberal and Dem silliness.
Well, at least it’s not another “sanctuary” stunt, ordering their employees not to cooperate with the federal government when enforcing federal immigration law.
(Not that ObamaCo has done much about this, other than now to start inspecting employers’ staffs for citizenship.)
Or wanting all their cities declared “nuclear-free zones”…
Or wanting Bush and Cheney impeached for war crimes…
Or misusing the courts to be goons against the gun makers…
Or merely acting as if it’s 1972 – “we need vast new urban programs” (made contemporary but still wrong by seeking it as a stimulus measure) — oops, they are trying something contemporary. Not that it makes any more sense now.
Why aren’t they grown-up and proper, going to their state governments for help (and with their political activism)?
[shrug]
DLS
You amaze me sometimes. The mayors represent local government that is looking out for their citizens unlike the big brother empire building federal government. And why don’t they go to their state governments? Because they are hurting as badly as they are. Like all previous empires we have reached a point where we can’t afford it anymore. One million dollars per troop a year in Afghanistan? How can that investment possibly be worthwhile? It’s only worthwhile to the sociopathic plutocrats who are making money and the generals who are seeing their careers enhanced.
And it’s not just the “liberal Dems” – a number of Republican mayors have also signed on.
If there is one thing empires all have in common it’s that they over extend and fall. That’s where the US of A is today. Bread and Circuses can people the people happy but we are reaching the point where many people can no longer afford the circus, cable TV, and there is not enough bread. The end of empire!
Oh, the US Conference of Mayors claims to be “non-partisan,” as do other organizations (including media organizations), but …
It’s not “investment,” not in Afghanistan, never here, either — it is expenditure.
Wow, one million dollars per troop, per year? That’s insane. Makes me wonder why these politicians keep saying we’re broke. How can we spend billions upon billions in two wars at once, cut taxes for the wealthy and corporations, subsidize multi-billion dollar businesses, and then tell everyone we can’t afford to take care of our own citizens? They seem to be perfectly capable of finding money to fight wars and use the military as a global police force. It needs to stop.
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DLS
Would you please stop being such a partisan hack?
Hemm,
Why are you calling names?
Here’s last year’s resolution list. You think this is a centrist group?
http://www.usmayors.org/resolutions/78th_Conference/adoptedresolutionsfull.pdf
More and more, for the last ten + years, Counties have been taking more from the Cities… States have taking more from the Counties… And the feds have taking from the Blue States and giving more to the Red States. The republican plan has been working.
It’s obvious from what they say (i.e. recent comments on leftie mayors and the Texas success story) “online righties” don’t pay attention to local politics but why should they when playing partisan games is so much fun.
Dave H.: First I have to become one. Please don’t be dishonest until that (never) happens. Thanks in advance.
Your Remedial Instructor
As for those on whom instruction is likely wasted, I won’t bother.
“As for those on whom instruction is likely wasted, I won’t bother.” – DLS
If only.
I’m generous and ever willing to give many the benefit of the doubt.