Yet, the American government refuses to raise its revenues to fund the $9 billion/month we're spending on average on the war in Iraq.  True we're cutting away some of our domestic spending in an effort to get the government's budget in the black, but what seems pretty obvious to me is those who bear these burdens are the same - future generations (i.e. posterity.) Friedman has an op-ed in the New York times Sunday on this subject that helped me realize that this is ultimately why I have such a distaste for politics in America.

 

I abhor the short-term tactics of the two-party system which has sliced and diced our voting districts for their benefit (i.e. gerrymandering) that have left this country seemingly crippled to stand up for itself and demand accountability from government servants. The war in Iraq has been a mess from the start from misinformation from top government officials to a lack of support in terms of changeover and equipment for our troops once in battle. Not to mention, we have not raised revenue to pay for this war; rather borrowing ahead on the credit of our children. The same credit we have squandered by not making the difficult decisions regarding healthcare and social security that has left people my age with this knowing feeling that although we pay into the safety net we better make damn sure we build our own because we will never collect under the current system.  Not to mention that it's possible in my lifetime that we run out of affordable oil and gas, yet politicians today refuse to call on our auto industry to make vehicles at least as efficient as those in China.  But what does it matter what you borrow from future generations if the United States continues to be so arrogant as to believe coming up with a goal by 2009 is making serious headway on climate change?

 

I wonder how long my generation and those younger will sit idly by and watch our future squandered. I wonder how my parents sleep at night realizing they are leaving little option for their grandchildren. I thought Americans prided themselves in building a better future for their children. It is time Americans explain and are held accountable for these decisions.