Timidity

Welcome back to “What’s Wrong With Washington!” Thank you for joining us again this week after I was not able to present a new edition of 4W last week because of a debate tournament. I appreciate all of the support I have received from you all the past several weeks and I again encourage you to check out my website, Lance Pisowicz Online (www.wix.com/lancejp/online). Also become a subscriber of my Youtube Channel (www.youtube.com/user/lancejponline), like my Facebook (www.facebook.com/pages/Lance-Pisowicz/130049603677542), or follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/lancejp). You can also subscribe to my blogs on blogger (www.wrongwithwashington.blogspot.com and www.lancesweeklywalk.blogspot.com). Just a little more than one week until Christmas and it seems that Americans are in a frenzy to get everything done before the holidays. We will touch on Christmas’s role in America as well as two other key issues tonight: the taxation dispute in Congress and the United States’ withdraw yesterday from Iraq. Is America becoming timid politically and morally?

*Let’s begin with the removal of American forces from Iraq yesterday. The United States has now officially ended the war in Iraq, costing the nation approximately 757.8 billion dollars according to the Department of Defense. The war also cost over 4,400 American servicemen and servicewomen’s lives. There are approximately 11,000 troops there right now waiting for transport home. My cousin, who is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force served six months there a couple of years ago.

I understand how these families feel in regards to the losses of their loved one’s lives. I understand the sacrifices they most make to preserve the freedom that we often take for granted. However, that is exactly why their service is so valuable. Regardless of what war is being discussed, what caused it and our opinion of the cause it is un-American for us to turn our backs on our veterans and their families.

As these men and women return home and are reintegrated into civilian life, they will find that it is a difficult transformation, especially if they joined the Service immediately after high school. The question becomes, how involved should the government be in making sure that veterans are treated in the proper manner for success in the present and beyond?

The simple answer to this is that they are government employees. Normally I would discourage too much federal government involvement in assisting these individuals, but this help is the parallel of the benefits offered to civilian employees. This means they should be provided with efficient and affordable healthcare and all of the tools necessary to help them get started on following their dreams. This does not mean that I support government-run healthcare, but I do advocate that the Feds take care of their employees.

Individuals ought to assist veterans as well. They made the ultimate sacrifice for us, their lives. Now it is our duty to fulfill our role. Employers should take pride in hiring veterans especially if they are just as qualified or even more proficient than a civilian applying for a job is.

As far as the issue with Iraq goes, we must keep an eye out for trouble in that area of the world. Right now, the hostile nation of Iran is on the verge of developing a destructive, nuclear weapon. We must be watchful in protecting our ally Israel as well as making sure that the nation of Iraq can continue to develop into a freer society as well as an American ally. If Iran invades Iraq, the United States must lead the charge with the NATO, the United Nations, and any of our allies with enough “backbone” to stand up to a “bully” like Iran. We should not look for another war, and we should do everything possible to prevent it. However, we must not allow the United States’ global status to be downgraded simply because a hostile nation gets too arrogant. Our government must not be timid from a military standpoint; that sends a sign of weakness to the world.

*When one thinks of war there is often a huge dollar sign next to it. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the United States is approximately 15 trillion dollars in debt, and it is projected to rise to 17.5 trillion by 2015. This projection does not include any new potential wars. It removes Iraq from the equation but keeps the war in Afghanistan as a part of the predicted debt total.

Americans have been asking, can we afford another war? Well if our sovereignty as a nation or our security is threatened, then I would say we must. However, if there is an issue out there that will not have any major or direct impact on our nation, then we ought to stay out of it.

However, if the unavoidable happens and we become involved in another war, the question becomes, “Where do we get the funds from?” President Obama would suggest taxation. Specifically he wants to increase the income tax on upper-class Americans, feeling they owe the country more.

Now I have nothing wrong with contributing my “fair share” especially if the funds I pay are used to support, protect, and assist my family and me. However, when the issue becomes the fact that our taxpayer dollars are spent unwisely, which is where I, along with most Americans draw the line.

Over forty percent of every dollar America spends goes to paying the interest on the national debt. That means China gets over 40 cents for 1 dollar spent in more cases than any other holder of the U.S. debt. If we are sending China almost half of our tax revenue and overhead for trade, it is no wonder that our debt continues to grow and our economy is moving at a “snail’s pace.”

The question then develops into, “How do we cut the deficit?” This can be done in a number of ways. We can fill in the tax loopholes, reform the welfare system to prevent people who are unproductive but capable of productivity from receiving federal aid, and stop sending foreign aid to hostile nations such as Pakistan and China.

The answer is not increasing the tax on the poor, the middle class, or the rich. The answer is changing our spending habits and promoting American productivity from the inside-out.

*Finally we’ll discuss the issue regarding Christmas’s role in the United States. As we all know, Christmas is a federal holiday in the United States. Although it’s original and true meaning is the celebration of Christ’s Birth, the holiday has been extended to all faiths and belief structures as a day to give, care for, and love others.

Some individuals do not feel that Christmas should be a federal holiday. These are some of the same people who insist that you say “Happy Holidays” in order to be politically correct and not risk offending people. I have no problems saying “Happy Holidays” when referring to Christmas and New Year’s together, but when Rhode Island’s governor, Lincoln Chafee calls the Christmas tree in the public square, a “Holiday Tree” I draw the line.

By not allowing people to say “Merry Christmas” in school or in public office, these individuals are denying the right to freedom of speech. That inherently is unconstitutional.

Now you may be saying, wait a second Lance; what’s wrong with “Happy Holidays?” There is nothing wrong with “Happy Holidays” when discussing Christmas and New Year’s together, but when it becomes a method of “beading around the bush” of referring to the holiday of Christmas in its true context, the term is not fitting. You see this with the Christmas break in public schools going from being called, “Christmas Vacation” about 20-30 years ago, to “Winter Break” today. It’s funny how we have three winter breaks every year now. Maybe we could be a little more original than that. Hiding behind the curtain of political correctness is over. It is time for all Americans to stand up for what they believe in.

Thank you for joining me on What’s Wrong With Washington this evening. For those of you who finished school or work today, let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas Break! If you still have school or work to finish before Christmas, rest assured you are in the homestretch now. Also, be sure to tell us what you think by leaving us a message at: http://lponline.wufoo.com/forms/z7x3k7/.

Be sure to tell us what your thoughts are on the taxation issue by voting at: http://poll.fm/3fmaw. You can access this poll and many other features through Lance Pisowicz Online, www.wix.com/lancejp/online.

I hope you have enjoyed our broadcast tonight, as much as I have. Thanks again and have a great weekend!