Don't tell my generation that money is not a factor

As a political writer on this web site, you will often notice a "generation y" bias, especially when it comes to issues involving the deficit.  Shortly after September 11th, 2001, I had the naive notion (as did other young Americans entering college) that our goal should be to fight all terrorism regardless of the monetary cost.  Well, more than about $1 trillion worth of debt later, most among my generation including myself are worried about how far in the red we are.  Banks in the Middle East and Asia that are buying shares of our debt now have us by the boot-straps.  It's easy for Republicans and some Democrats to just throw money at each military bill for Iraq -- after all, they won't even be alive to pay for it.

Also, just about every economist says the same thing: as GDP-adjusted U.S. debt increases, the greater likelihood that the dollar decreases in value.  If banks who invest in the U.S. dollar forecast a long-term decline in its value, then they will start charging more interest.  Usually when their rates go up, the U.S. has to raise interest rates as well in order to keep up -- that hurts consumers.

So when it comes to our foreign policy, yes, our monetary ability to wage the war against terrorism is a finite one.  Time Magazine's Lisa Beyer alluded to that very point in her article published for this week:

However grand it may be to fight all global terrorists, though, thesimple fact is that we can't: we don't have the troops, the money orthe political will. That means it may make sense to limit our hit listto the groups that actually threaten us.

I completely agree with that statement.  It does not mean we should shy away from condemning anti-Semitic groups like Hamas, nor does it mean we can't cut off private U.S. funds that find their way to violent groups.  It does mean though that our energies ought to be fixated on making the most of our resources to protect what are true threats, and provide taxpayers with the transparency needed remain in the loop.

When you hear politicians discard the birth tax (National Debt) as just a number, the chances are that they won't even be around in 30 years when the rest of us have to worry about it.
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Other blogs writing about Bush's Foreign Policy: Media Matters, Donkey Path, Nemesis News, American Entropy, A Daily Briefing on Iran, Bravene World, Scrapple Face, Liberal Pro.

Comments

[George]

Burning our cash is their greatest weapon. The longer the war continues the bigger dent they put in our economy. Even the wealthy USA cannot sustain it indefinitely. Additionally, like morons, we continue to fund both sides of the war through our energy dependence on the Middle East.

[this site sucks]

this site is soooo lame and reflects how sad and pathetic the left is. bunch of cry baby do nothing bitches.
have a nice day!!!
you suck,
deal with it