No War Left Behind

THE WAR POWERS ACT OF 2009

In March of 2009, after 6 years of war in Iraq, a

Congress that has picked up dozens of Democratic seats in the House and several in the Senate sends a bill to President McCain that is likely to change American foreign policy for the next several generations, a retooling of the War Powers Act to weaken the White House's seemingly unilateral control over military expeditions overseas.

OK, this is probably some type of wonkish fan fiction, but what does Congress do in the next administration to regain some control over governing? Particularly it's Constitutional duty to declare war. There has been no declaration of war in the United States since the early 1940's. Things have been a little crazy over the past few years, kind of a bunch of folks who have no idea what they are doing just kinda seem to be winging it. So, maybe it's time for the grownups to take over. So here is my wacky proposal, I'll work out the details later (you know like Constitutionality and so forth, but really it's just a piece of paper)

The President is the Commander in Chief, a necessary piece of civilian control of the military, and the leader of clear chain of command. There is no need to have a representative from Vermont working on tactical and even strategic missions in theater. In fact under the new War Powers Act the President will have a 90 day period to act to any immediate threats to national security.

After this 90 day period, any further expenditures will have to have the approval of Congress, also at this point at least a 10% income surtax (as a percentage of tax paid, not of income, similar to the Vietnam surtax)

After 180 days, the revised Selective Service Act of 2009 takes effect. This Selective Service is truly selective. The military in consultation with the civilian leadership identifies skill sets needed for the good of the nation and it's defense. Gone are the $900-$1200/day trigger pullers from Blackwater, etc., welcome to Uncle Sam's Army, here's your 45K plus combat pay, sergeant. You need some wastewater engineers, linguistic experts, computer programmers, there you go, right there in public agencies and private corporations.

Sure this is pure fantasy, the suffering in Iraq is done by poor and working class Americans for the most part and their families. But war, as important as it can be for national security, needs to be a last resort and needs the efforts of an entire population to win. So how can a Congress that has become more insignificant year by year, pounding down earmarks like crab rangoons and arguing about steroids in baseball and Terri Schiavo and naming post offices actually regain a little control over governing?

MEDIOCRITY IS THE NEW BLACK

Wow, this election campaign sucks. And I'm afraid cycle by cycle, it's just going to get worse. There will likely never be any more exciting candidates, energizing, experienced candidates who have taken risks, experienced failure and grown into prudent, logical, critical thinking adults who know who to take counsel from and who to ignore and push away. Best case scenario, some blow dried corporate hack like Mitt Romney running the country through focus groups and white papers, worse case scenario, someone makes the leap from American Idol to the White House.

Instead of AC-DC and Minor Threat we get Winger and a bunch of hair bands. Instead of the Barking Crab we get Red Lobster, instead of Fenway we get some bullshit cookie cutter park. Instead of Thomas Friedman, you get some jacked up blogger. You get the drill.

Netroots, 24-7 news cycles, short attention spans and gossip have destroyed any opportunity for clear articulation of policy, any real campaigning but reacting to the latest media manufactured scandal or gossip. What's Hillary wearing, where's Barack go to church, what cute blonde does John flirt with? Just stupid, insipid crap that makes you insane.