Weekend to Remember: Saturday Political Soap Box 25

This is Memorial Day Weekend, a time to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of this country via their service in the military.  We salute them and their immeasurable service that they have done for us, those whom in the end paid the ultimate price.

If you have stories or remembrances of those of your family and friends who served and lost their lives in that service, please share them with us, and we will share in that remembrance and honor their service.  I have had family members and friends who have served, but I personally have not had losses in that regard.

In our most recent conflicts, we have had only a small percentage of Americans involved.  I have heard reports indicating that it represents less than 1% of our population.  One of the terrible consequences of this is that a good number of soldiers have served repeated tours in conflict hot zones, some as many as four or five tours.  We seem to be asking more and more from a smaller and  smaller group of people.

In order to help solve this problem, what do you all think of the re-institution of the draft, particularly in times of conflict?  I think it would help increase the sense of shared sacrifice necessary to make it through a conflict.  And yes, it would make the country think twice about our military endeavors.  We would really have to feel like a military solution was necessary.

What about the financing of the extra resources used in a conflict?  Shouldn't we be willing to impose a shared surtax to make sure it is fiscally covered, instead of increasing the country's deficit and cause problems further down the road?

Finally, I hope that we as a country do whatever we can to help the military families who have suffered these egregious losses.  I hope we continue to provide financial support to the families, that they get to continue with VA or medical benefits, that the education of family members is taken care of, that religious and civic organizations provide love, comfort and support.

Those who have served and given their lives, we salute you, we remember you.  God bless you and your families.