You know, congresscritters seem to make a habit of taking war a little lightly, especially when pondering on certain consequences such as loss of American lives. I say this because I believe that sadly, the core of fighting men and women and their families seem to be entirely lacking a real representation when it comes to whom we fight or why we choose to fight them.
I think that IDEALLY, only congressmen, or "congress people" to be P.C.
, with next of kin serving as enlisted men should be able to plead and act in favor of armed conflict. Congressmen who do not have close relatives in the front lines of our armed forces should be excluded from war mongering. They should retain their ability to veto a war proposition, but lose the ability to vote in favor of declaring war.
It would appear to be the most effective preemptive barrier to a war we don't need or shouldn't be fighting in the first place. Granted, it's our job as voters to make sure the people on Capitol Hill are the right ones. Those who will put the interest of the Country ahead of their own specific and private political/economic agendas, and not declare widespread war as a de facto response to every
perceived threat abroad. But other than a nationwide referendum preceding every major war operation, the only way to truly make sure that the decision makers will be included among those who will have to pick up the Bill*, is by making sure that they are exposed to the same hardships as that sector of society from which the boots will be taken to be put on the faraway ground.
*by "Bill" I mean caskets
Insuring that the people who make the decisions that lead us to war will take into consideration the same consequences as those who will be over there, in body or in spirit, will be a big step towards making the US a little more in tune with what a America should be like.
What do you think?
