Who will pay for Bush's war? No question, it's his war. Our kids will pay, plus any of us older generations still alive. A lot of money will come from agencies and programs we take for granted, some that may have been with us for a hundred years.
In other words Peter (agency) will be robbed to pay Paul (debt). It is happening now. Under-funding will eventually cause Peter to collapse. The government will decide Peter can't be saved and he will be discarded. His assets, land, will be sold off and privatized. Who is Peter? Peter is our National Park Service, Peter is the United State Fish and Wildlife Service that manages wildlife habitat nationwide. Peter is the U.S. Forest Service.
Sixty percent of our nation's water supplies come from national forests. These agencies are under-funded by billions of dollars. Maintenance backlogs are huge.
Another way to rob an agency is not to replace retiring personnel. Presently federal refuges are being abandoned and staff from other refuges are taking over the management. They're simply understaffed.
Should you be concerned? Anyone wanting clean water or a place to hike or hunt or who appreciates natural beauty and open space should be angry. Imagine condos scattered through Yellowstone National Park. This is the spoken, desired result of the neo-conservatives.
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When these assets are sold they will be gone forever. Once developed, they will never be the open vistas we remember. Everyone should know the Republicans got us into this mess. They are the party that claims to hate government and spending but they don't practice what they speak. Pay-as-you-go budgets don't exist. Neo-cons plan to "starve the beast" (the government) and they are doing a good job.
If you doubt me, you'd better start reading and listening. If nothing is done we'll end up a nation of houses and streets. You can't have quality and not fund it!
Graden West
New London
