DISQUS

Justin · 1 year ago

Hello I've been a lurker on your site for some times now and really like the stuff you put out. We see eye to eye on many subjects and I really enjoy reading your blog everyday. I'm a member of the military been in the navy for 10 years joined straight out of high school. Currently I'm on a shore command that is a mix of other navy enlisted, and civilian government/contractors. Over the past year or so the debate on who should be president and on politics in general have been going strong and here's what I've seen so far. I'm the token democrat in the office and as such I get a lot of ribbing from all the other guys. To them I'm crazy because to elect a democrat means...you guessed it SOCIALISM!!! and a weaker underfunded military and that we will be viewed as week and spinless on the world stage. No matter what facts you give to them about the tax plan and how its not really socialism, the fact that just because you negotiate does not mean you are weak, or the fact that we as a country simply can not afford to sustain all the conflicts we are in never mind starting new ones. They see Obama as a threat to what they consider America should be and stand for. Most people at least here and the military in general (I'm at the subbase in Groton ct) are orginally from places in the south, midwest and other red states. I'm orginaly from Mass. This might have something to do with it but really I dont know. My parents for instance are moderate republicans. My siblings are mixed in their party preference. What I think it all comes down to is that my peers simply can't see the forest from the tress and believe that the republican party still stands for what they think are noble and righteous causes. But McCain and his party are a different breed of people then say Barry Goldwater republicans from 30 years ago, they live in denial. I think this piece written by a lifelong moderate sums up what I believe to be happening to the tee. If you have the time I recommend you read it. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chuck-lasker/mode... Best regards, Justin