11 April 2008

Anti-Militarism Saves America!

MADD Founder Saves America: I've discussed before why the drinking age for military personnel should be lowered to 18, but the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving ain't buying it (h/t to Brian from work):

But Lightner was disgusted that our fighting men and women would have the audacity to imbibe. She ranted that 18-year-olds haven't "developed, and that's exactly why the draft age is 18, because these kids are malleable." She added: "They will follow the leader, they don't think for themselves, and they are the last ones I want to say, 'Here's a gun, and here's a beer.' They are not adult—that's why they're in the military. They are not adults."

I guess if you just hung around this milblog she could get the impression that all military people are naive youngsters. Joke's on her that I am well above the legal limit for drinking.

Seattle Hippies Save America: There are some activists in Seattle who think that the city pension fund should divest its holdings from the lurking evils of Caterpillar and Halliburton (I thought KBR, the largest contractor in Iraq, was no longer part of Halliburton, but I could be wrong):

We would like them to not invest in companies that are actively profiting from occupation and war," said Carla Curio, a spokeswoman for the campaign, Seattle Divest From War and Occupation. Curio acknowledged uncertainty over whether the group will ultimately be able to gather the approximately 18,000 minimum number of signatures. Still, she said, "We want to get in the public's consciousness that there could be conscientious investments."

Aw, geez. So much for Rosie the Riveter! I guess the city pension fund should invest in crappy-tasting organic foods that require more energy to harvest than those delicious chemically-treated snacks and hacky-sacks made in communist Cuba. That'll probably prop up these people living in co-ops for another summer of partying until they go back to begging their parents for cash. This would make sense if Iraq was a Darfur or Apartheid-era South Africa...but it's a war...fought by Americans...which I'm pretty certain Seattle is still part of...unless I missed a secession in my 10-month absence from the Puget Sound area.

Just so you don't think I'm picking on the ladies, Ms. MezzoSF is a fellow left-coaster who supports the troops, who kindly sent me this pic below. It sort of ties in nice with this post.
True on the left, not so much on the right

5 comments:

Bag Blog said...

The only reason there is a drinking age is because some parents are too stupid to raise their own children and they need laws to tell them what is okay and not.

Halliburton and KBR split ways a couple of years ago. Cheney left Halliburton 8 years ago. People who buy name-brand products cannot get passed the name.

KA said...

what a bitch. Founder of MADD - officially on my shit list.

Steamer said...

She lost all credibility in my eyes when she called it the "draft age". That is, unless we have transported back in time to the Vietnam era...

MezzoCO said...

I guess some people just don't *get* it.
The last two folks I know who joined up were:
38 (enlisted as a Grunt)
28 (headed to OCS)

Both men well above the drinking age, and two of the most intelligent, responsible, kind and well-educated ADULTS that I have ever had the honor to know.

Glad you liked the picture lol...

Nixon said...

Bag Blog,

Thank you for clearing that up! I agree with you on the drinking age thing.

Tin Ma'am,

Haha, harsh words. I like your style.

Kyle,

She must be living in the past.

MezzoSF,

I firmly believe that we coddle teenagers too much with planned activities and micromanagement. This ill prepares them for the independent life. If I have kids, they're out the door when they are 18.