How to Finance War

My recent running experiences about which to blog have been in short supply while I was recuperating, so let's try some politics, shall we?

Seems that there was a Faith & Freedom conference a week or so ago, attended by some high-profile Republican folks and Presidential contenders.

M. Bouffant at Whiskey Fire pointed out a sad example of a politician speaking the truth:

Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell spent a little time away from the podium to meet activists and talk to reporters. He runs [strategist Ralph] Reed's affiliate in Ohio; he's thinking about running for U.S. Senate. He was the only Republican in that position who said what the social conservatives believe.

"Clean water is important to us," said Blackwell. "Decent housing is important to us. But they're not rights. And we have to begin to say that what's important is that we in a rational way are able to reform these programs in a way to save them. And, yes, if it means that somewhere down the line individuals have to make sacrifices, because the rationalization of the system means we save it, but we are also doing it in a more efficient way. … I don't think too many Americans will object to that. At the end of the day we're going to get back to making sure we're in a position to finance the wars in which we engage. Does that mean we can do that without sacrificing? No. We have to make sacrifices. But what's more important? Our freedom and security or the gluttony of the federal government?"

Bouffant's comment:

There you have it. We are to "sacrifice" in order that "the wars in which we engage" may be financed. Wars that protect our freedom and security, but won't allow for clean water, decent housing or anything else of real worth.

In order to protect the nation, we must destroy it. (Or make Ken Blackwell drink some less-than-clean water. Which would you prefer?)

So, this joker, with no apparent self-awareness or inkling of what he actually is saying, tells us that we have to sacrifice basic entitlements to clean water and decent housing to be able to afford our military adventures. 

You'll pardon me if I believe that the esteemed Mr. Blackwell has it exactly a**backwards.