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Forum Post: Thoghts from a Histroy Teacher

Posted 12 years ago on Sept. 30, 2011, 12:38 p.m. EST by AsteroidBlues (6) from Dubuque, IA
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Here are some thoughts from my high school History teacher, whom I greatly respect:

Well.... I can't say I'm at all surprised....given the problems we are facing.... it may sound a bit "Marxist" .... but the fact is that there is a growing "gap" between "classes".... yes there have and always will be those who are "poor" and those who are "rich".... but for a better part of the last century ...at least in this nation... there was a large "middle class".... and as long as they had 'something'..... well life wasn't all that bad... but now what we are facing is a growning number of those "middle class"... those who bought houses (yes at stupid inflated prices) only to end up losing them and all their savings.... those who had "good jobs" only to lose them for any number of reasons.... those who saw their savings drop by 50-70%... and all the while gov't was spending money like it grows on trees... and yes all the politicans (dem/rep/liberal/conservative alike) were busy stuffing their pockets with money.... well I think you get the pictures.... I do sense there is "unrest" in this nation and it's all due to a lack of faith....in the system... in the structure... and in each other... it's becoming a "ever man for himself" ..... the question is... what can be done.... ? Some quick ideas... none of which will happen...but... if I were the "dictator" for a year....

Raise taxes on everyone making over 250,000 per year (for a family of four)....

If you make over 1,000,000 a year (family of 4).... raise it even HIGHER....

Major cuts in gov't spending....yes even to Midicare (yes it means I would have to do without).... Social Security....

End BOTH of our so called "wars" and bring all troops home NOW....

Reinstate the draft...all 18 years old are required to serve 3 years.... not all would be in the military... call it "national duty service"...some would be in the military...others would be assigned to cities ...hospitals... care facilities... working on public projects... but all would be required to "serve the nation".... and needless to say.... they would get paid "very little".... thus saving the gov't a large amount of money....

In short...I think we need to go back in time... W.W.II.... when that "greatest generation" was asked to sacrafice..... they stepped up.... they did what they had to do... they went "without".... so too do I beleive that we Americans need to step up and start making sacrifices of our own

Thoughts?

3 Comments

3 Comments


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[-] 1 points by shinyheart (27) 12 years ago

Tax the rich, end the wars, sure.

But I would fight the draft with every fiber of my being. We're already forced to spend our first 18 years in educational institutions that are, let's be honest, often a huuge waste of time. We shouldn't deprive people of meaningful autonomy for even more time.

[-] 1 points by littleg (452) 12 years ago

I agree. Not one American soldier should be outside American soil. Military is necessary for one purpose only, that is to defend our country. We should never attack another country.

[-] 1 points by Divinityfound (112) from Lincoln, NE 12 years ago

I like quite a bit... I don't mind the sacrifice... I'm fortunate to be limited in my debts and have a full time job... but that is all it is. A blessing. Lord who knows what happens if things come tumbling down...