The Ukraine

[callmeslick]

I have not given up on my country, just see the writing on the wall. I see nothing wrong with accepting a station in life, I like where I am at. I never wanted to be rich, famous or highly regarded by the masses. I fulfilled my dream in life. My bucket list was complete before my 30th birthday (long before the term was coined)!

you need to start a new bucket list, my friend.........seriously, I sort of agree with Res. You seem to have given up the fight, from your own words. I can see tiring of Interweb debate, but to concede your future as having been past-peak seems a bit odd.

[Darkhorse]

A new bucket list, no. Goals I do have, four years from this October I will start collecting my second retirement and move out of this damn city to the place I have been working on in Eastern Arizona near the Colorado river and do only what I want when I want!

[callmeslick]

very good.......as I'd expect from our exchanges, about the exact opposite of my preferences
(I'm a near-salt-water type, and my beloved VA house is within 4 miles of Chesapeake Bay, and 12 miles from the Atlantic).
Enjoy life, at any rate! It's a shame to see a thinking person seemingly give up on his nation, or the future, as you seem to state above. One can only hope that such feeling is but temporary. I don't know if you have kids/grandkids or the like, but if so, they need good folks to ponder what sort of future they inherit. Frankly, that is my main driver for such thinking.

[Darkhorse]

I am intrigued about your below statement,

'military class' that feels ............ more entitled

Do you feel that the military thinks they are entitled to something more than what is in the contract that they have with the nation? If so explain please.

[callmeslick]

Oh, and DH....haven't played ping-pong since college(where it involved beer and other stuff), but I do play a mean game of tennis!

[callmeslick]

I am intrigued about your below statement,

'military class' that feels ............ more entitled

Do you feel that the military thinks they are entitled to something more than what is in the contract that they have with the nation? If so explain please.

Yes, in some cases. Not to a man/woman, by any means, but I have encountered an alarming number of folks(often in Interweb forum settings) who seem to imply that their military service gives them some sort of exclusive right to opine on foreign policy, defense spending and other matters that the US constitution expressly leaves up to ALL citizens, and under civilian control at the top. As for any benefits implied in the contract for service, those and a LOT more are deserved, IMO. To clarify that remark, I mean that I feel that VA and other post-separation services for combat veterans should be FAR more robust and FAR more enlightened than has been the case throughout my lifetime. I find it sad, actually, that politicians pander to miltary vets and active duty, and do so little to benefit them. Further, I see a lot of sheer BS peddled about things like methods of cost-of-living calculations(which really amount to very little over the long haul), while trying to gut programs like food stamps(of which a lot of lower-ranking military families depend upon) and VA psychological support networks for combat veterans.

edit--interestingly, the veterans from who I seldom, if ever, hear such 'special status' claims from are those who actually went into combat. My best friend on the planet was a tank repairer in Vietnam, and all he ever claims to be is just another regular American citizen. As it should be. Most of the worst blowhards seem to be veterans of desk duty during peaceful times.......strange, huh?

[Pudfark]

Slick the stench of your personal experience/opinion, serving this country and others....would gag a buzzard on a gut wagon.

[callmeslick]

thanks for reminding me how refreshing Darkhorse is..........and, sort of proving my point to him at the same time.

[Pudfark]

You're welcome.

[nicolas10]

Well Slick it has been interesting, I understand that debating is a sport of yours (bet you also enjoy ping-pong ) but for me because we are so far apart with little in common it just gives me a headache. I am just a poor white middle class christian farm boy and I know my place in this society that has been created. I have my vision of what America should be (was very close to it at one time). I love my country but have very little faith in it moving in a direction that is not self destructive. As a student of history it angers me to watch the "leaders" of this country put on their blinders and march over the same cliff many others have in the past. With that said, see ya around!

I have the same feeling about my country, the only difference is that I am convinced that politicians are walking towards the cliff on purpose. Or are made to by the puppetmasters.

Nic