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May 30, 2011

But What Are They Dying For?

Justin Katz

Honestly, I don't want to sully Memorial Day with politics, but a pair of Mark Steyn posts make me wonder: What, precisely, are we sending our sons and daughters to defend?

First is a post in which Steyn notes USDA investigations of small-time professional magicians, specifically those who are suspected of using rabbits in their shows. As he writes, in his inimitable way:

When the brokest nation in history still thinks it can afford to send federal investigators snooping through the back yards of children's magicians on the off-chance they might be using rabbits on stage, you’ve got to conclude it actively wants to die.

Regarding the European and U.S. ratios of workers to public-benefits recipients, Steyn writes:

The entire Western world is approaching the point at which Wile E Coyote looks down and realizes there's nothing under his feet.

Since a line must be drawn, I suppose that I'm a hair on the hawk side, but I'll say this: If we're fighting for the authority of magician-rabbit regulators and continued freewheeling spending by politicians and bureaucrats, then not another American should risk his or her life. Those who find something in the United States that is worthy of one's life must make very clear that freedom, not centralized regulation, is the principle that they have in mind.

Comments

"All enemies, foreign and domestic..."

It takes effort, with this regime in power, to remember that America is still the birthplace of real freedom and remains its best home. The cancerous Progressive movement will be defeated and like the Neanderthals, become the evolutionary dead end that it deserves to be. Meanwhile, the real America is still under attack by a vicious and crafty enemy, and those who volunteer to defend her are today's heroes.

I am thankful that there are no troops on the ground for Obama's ego trip in Libya.

Posted by: BobN at May 30, 2011 6:40 PM

"..a hair on the hawk side..?"

Justin, USDA investigators will come-a-knockin' tomorrow to determine whether you are using rabbits (hair...hare...whatever) and birds (hawk) in composing your blog posts.

Didn't you know you need a license for that?

Posted by: brassband at May 30, 2011 8:17 PM

Today we honor those who have died in military service to our country. Our country's government determines where and when the military is to fight and die. It's the right of all citizens to question the wisdom of waging war even in the face of criticism from government officials and corporate news companies. "What are they dying for" is always a valid question but for today I would rather focus on those who cannot answer that question any more. Thank you for posting the list of names of our neighbors killed in military service on an earlier post.

Posted by: Phil at May 30, 2011 9:06 PM

" If we're fighting for the authority of magician-rabbit regulators and continued freewheeling spending by politicians and bureaucrats, "

Also recently brought to light: tax-payer funded shrimp on a treadmill.

blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/05/27/sen-coburn-targets-shrimp-on-treadmill-other-nsf-spending/tab/print/

Posted by: Monique at May 31, 2011 10:01 AM

Monique,

It's just the Feds way to ensure that you enjoy "mussels" with your shrimp.

Posted by: ANTHONY at May 31, 2011 4:02 PM

Very good, ANTHONY ...

Posted by: Monique at May 31, 2011 5:16 PM

Is this the way we honor those who have died in service? Do you do so by pushing a narrow political agenda? Really???

Posted by: Phil at May 31, 2011 8:35 PM