Yesterday I asked the question "when do you count the cost?" as it relates to you individually. More important is the question "when do you ignore the cost?" and do something. The example I gave was an emergency room visit.
Today I want to ask if the same logic applies to the U.S. as a country? Is there (or should there be) a time to do something without regard to the cost?
For example, we recently had the 68th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor - a day which has lived in infamy since that day. We all (hopefully) know what happened and the result was the U.S. entry into WW II. The cost of that war was tremendous. But no one questioned the cost or has said that we shouldn't have gone to war. Just let the Japanese (and Germans) take what they wanted. Instead, we ignored the cost, figured we'd pay for it later.
The cost was paid in lives and in sacrifices of U.S. citizens. I've heard my parents talk about rationing, and the shortages. But no one questioned it.
I believe that 9/11 was another such time to ignore the cost. Whether you believe we took the right action or not, is not the discussion at this point. Should we have ignored the cost and gone after terrorism? We will pay for the decision for a long time. And we don't (yet) know what the total cost will be. But I believe it was the right decision.
How about the stimulus package from earlier this year? We were told we had to do something and it had to be done right then. There was no time to "count the cost". What else? Where else is it right for us as a country to ignore the cost and continue?
4 comments:
The difference between the World War II and the war in Iraq is that, of course, Iraq was minding it's own business when the US Dropped bombs on Baghdad.
That there was no connection between Iraq and 9/11 is now a well established fact that even President Bush has acknowledged
Given that...
Was the war worth spending $700 billion of our childrens' money?
Did it achieve Peace in Iraq?
Will the Iraqis show their appreciation and repay us for our sacrifice?
And How did the US benefit?
Are we much better off now than we were when we started the war 8 years ago?
Would it have been better to use the money to build bridges, roads and schools at home instead of in Iraq?
How many more years will Iraq be America's national welfare case?
It's always easy to start a war. Much harder to end one.
Norris, thank you for your comments. I believe this is your first time to my blog, welcome.
From your comments, it's pretty clear you don't think the Iraq war was justified. My post was more general (I've got other posts on the Iraq war). Do you think there is an occasion to ignore the cost? Was 9/11 such a case.
Because of your emotion, it may be difficult to separate yourself on this individual event. You obviously disagree with the Bush administration actions. I respect that. I'd be interested in your opinion on "counting the cost" (either this post or the previous one).
Thanks for stopping by..
freedom is not free and must be defended, period. the "cost" the nation pays is monetary and pales in comparison to the individual or family's cost in a service members injury or death. we had to and will continue to have to fight islamic terrorists for a very long time. sadly, most of the service members sacrifices will be forgotten.
the bail out? unnecessary. strong businesses, well led and managed, thrive. no public money for private concerns. FORD is doing just fine. just like life in the forest is controlled by the quick and the dead, so is wall street.
our economy and continued standard of living. obama and the left think throwing good money at bad science will change the climate. sorry guys, it's the sun and moon that make things warm and the tides rise, all those greenbacks you are getting ready to flush won't change squat.
J summ, I missed your comments originally, blogger hasn't been playing well.
I agree completely with everything you said...
Post a Comment