It is time that America finally says, "enough is enough". We don't need any more. This nation is thirsting for real leadership, the best judgment; we need direction, someone with a vision for leading America. We need a leader that can think about the future of America and the world, not think about how he can further his own personal agenda.
The Vietnam War, a terrible chapter in the history of America, is a reality, its memory will stay with this nation for decades to come. Our government had no just reason for waging that illegal, immoral war just as we had no reason for invading and occupying Iraq in 2003. America will have a scar upon its national soul until we can find more rational and intelligent ways to conduct foreign policy and relations with the nations of the world - and make war the absolute last resort, not the first. It is time that we removed the word "pre-emptive" from our nation's foreign policy manual.
The reality also is that our military personnel, whether they wished to take part in that war or not, fulfilled their duty for their country. Yes, more than 55,000 died, serving John McCain and all America. The war was totally wrong but they were not; they may or may not have agreed with their government's agenda at that time, yet they served - and they died. So, without a doubt, they are the true heroes that America should honor. Sure, we should honor McCain for his service and sacrifice. But we will not honor him for his blatant pandering for votes.
America is at a critical tuning point. This nation is bleeding profusely, it is literally hemorrhaging. We are on the road to bankruptcy as our national debt is over $9 trillion, our annual trade deficit is more than $700 billion, our housing industry and associated financial institutions are in a chaotic state. The Federal Reserve continues printing hundreds of billion of dollars and tossing them into the black hole of unregulated, devious financial practices. The foundations of our economy are structurally unsound. And we can't seem to determine how to extricate ourselves from the quicksand of Iraq. We are digging ourselves into a massive hole but we can't seem to stop digging.
I hope that the citizens of our nation listen intently to exactly what the candidates are saying on the issues (yes, sometimes issues are discussed), what vision they have for America, and then cast their vote for the candidate that they feel is right for changing the direction of our country. While no candidate is perfect and can represent all of our own personal interests, we have to think deeply about which one will do the best job of extracting America from the quagmire into which we are rapidly sinking. This presidential election is certainly one of the most important, if not the most important in the history of our nation.
Yes, let's listen to what the candidates are saying on the issues of utmost importance to America, but let's completely tune out the never-ending self promotion of the candidate who is so obsessed with the memories of his own suffering. A man who should, but does not, publicly state his respect for those true heroes who would ask no more of their country except that it honor them by thinking long and hard before waging any future war.
Michael Payne
