Couple of things
- It was about time for a drought story. Though did anyone really expect roughly an inch of rain to solve anything? I mean, my grass sure appreciated it, but that's really about it.
- I'm not sure what to make of the smoking ban study. It seems more than a little silly, but Lord help me if it drives someone to think that we need to ban it on patios and porches. Even that wouldn't remedy the 'problem' because folks would stand next to the patios and porches and put out the same exact amount of smoke ... just a foot or two over.
- Gee Bob, is it his desire to put into place a regressive sales tax or his longing to abolish several federal agencies which make you want Democrats to back Paul Broun?
- Wow. This is kinda stupid. Considering there actually is an investigation going on into the beating of Warren Blackmon, I'm not sure what else Howard Guest would have us do. In fact, this is a patently offensive letter in some manner and if I were a member of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, I'd enjoy having a chat with Guest so I could explain to him exactly how crime investigation and local government really works.
- Speaking of patently offensive ...
- You know, I'm going to disagree with FlackAttack on this one. I'm not thrilled about being in Iraq for a long time, but I do support the concept of having U.S. military outposts in different places across the world. It helped give us a strategic advantage in the Cold War and bring stability to needed places. The problem, as I see it, is that our management and deployment of our military resources has been spotty in years past (dating back through the 1990s), not that U.S. troops are overseas.
- Good he's going home. Keep all of the North Oconee folks in your thoughts and prayers still.
- I'm not sure what to make of the smoking ban study. It seems more than a little silly, but Lord help me if it drives someone to think that we need to ban it on patios and porches. Even that wouldn't remedy the 'problem' because folks would stand next to the patios and porches and put out the same exact amount of smoke ... just a foot or two over.
- Gee Bob, is it his desire to put into place a regressive sales tax or his longing to abolish several federal agencies which make you want Democrats to back Paul Broun?
- Wow. This is kinda stupid. Considering there actually is an investigation going on into the beating of Warren Blackmon, I'm not sure what else Howard Guest would have us do. In fact, this is a patently offensive letter in some manner and if I were a member of the Athens-Clarke County Police Department, I'd enjoy having a chat with Guest so I could explain to him exactly how crime investigation and local government really works.
- Speaking of patently offensive ...
- You know, I'm going to disagree with FlackAttack on this one. I'm not thrilled about being in Iraq for a long time, but I do support the concept of having U.S. military outposts in different places across the world. It helped give us a strategic advantage in the Cold War and bring stability to needed places. The problem, as I see it, is that our management and deployment of our military resources has been spotty in years past (dating back through the 1990s), not that U.S. troops are overseas.
- Good he's going home. Keep all of the North Oconee folks in your thoughts and prayers still.
posted by Jmac at 6:49 AM
5 Comments:
JMac, just curious. Is it theoretically possible to you that it might be a good idea to abolish a federal agency? Or do you think that they are all unmitigated successes?
I'm not sure we disagree too much. As a purely strategic matter I agree with the notion of "forward projection" and a need to have a presence around the world.
I just think we should do that in places where we are actually welcomed.
We already have outposts in the middle east, notably places like al-Udeid in Qatar (actually handled elements of central command during stages of the iraq war). Why wouldn't we focus on expanding that capability, as opposed to building new bases where we are not wanted and our presence arguably makes things worse?
Well, history is littered with tales of poorly supported invasions and whatnot. For that reason, we do need to maintain a presence internationally, and that presence should probably be one that has the capability of supporting whatever efforts we have afoot in the region. That said, it's expensive and must be done strategically.
Regarding federal agencies, IMHO it is eminently possible, particularly if doing so leads to efficiencies in addressing the same needs. But abolishing them based on a belief that capitalism serves us better, and simply abandoning those needs, is simply not acceptable.
Well, Nicki kinda got around to what I was going to say. While I don't feel the need to necessarily abolish any current federal agency - though I could see the real need to streamline and reorganize some - that isn't to say that I wouldn't, at some point, be opposed to that.
Again, what Nicki said ... what provides a level of fairness and support for the population in the most efficient manner possible.
Jon, I don't necessarily disagree. Both Esquire and Vanity Fair have issues out which detail the progress done by U.S. military outposts in Africa.
Though, to play Devil's Advocate, you could also suggest that having bases in hostile places, at times, is essential to either our security or the security of our allies (Germany in the beginning stages of the Cold War, the Korean pennisula following the Korean War).
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