Struggling

There have always been struggling Americans. There are less today, actually, than in the past, as counterintuitive as that seems. Do the math. It’s true. I don’t think that makes the all too common struggles of the poor and working class in America defendable, particularly when the gap between those struggling and those not continues to widen. But what does the Pentagon’s inability to do accounting math really have to do with that struggle, particularly right here in our community? Look, I agree with Ike when he said, “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” He also said, “ A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be might, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction.” If we can keep the peace on our own shores, protecting struggling Americans from the threat of Russian authoritarians and oligarchs by helping Ukraine defeat the Russian aggressor I’m all in. …even if the Pentagon can’t do math.