"In Time of Peace, Prepare For War."

The United States Army was down 11% from its recruiting goals last year.  The Navy was down 8%.  The Coast Guard, down 6%.  The Space Force, -11%.  Only the Marine Corps was close to its target at down 3%.  

All of our military is down in recruitment.  Those are our would-be replacements for those currently serving.  Whom we need to protect us from an increasingly hostile world.  And I might mention also that only 0.78% of our population is currently serving in uniform.  That's down from 15.6% during WW2, 11.3% during the Viet Nam conflict, and 5.5% during the Iraq/Afghanistan years.  

Yet, it seems nobody's pulling the fire alarm!  The so-called "Corporate Media" isn't giving this potentially existential situation any minutes or ink or noise at all.  Even though they're supposed to be our journalists.  No problem to them, I guess.

But I think it's a big problem.  I just realized that I'm almost the only person I know who's served in the military.  For the first time in my life I can say that.  It used to be a "rite of passage."  Every young man went off to a couple of years in the military, and then came back all growed up and ready to live their lives.

But no more.

Even though 45 other countries require 2 years of public service.  And I think I know why.  There's no Pledge of Allegiance in most classrooms today.  No Flag in the corner in many of those same classrooms.  No "God and Country" sort of mentality in the teaching.  Because the teachers came from a generation that was taught to hate America, perhaps.  And now they're passing it along. 

And another reason:  Why should a young person join the military instead of working at McDonalds, when working at McDonalds pays more?  We, America, permit that abomination to occur.  The Bozos in Sacrascrewyou, as an example, have mandated a Minimun Wage of $20.00 an hour for fry cooks.  500,000 fast food folks across California are now paid more than a recruit in the Army.  Or the Navy, or Marines, or Air Force.  $20 AN HOUR equates to $41,300 a year.  The military's starting pay is now $35,600 a year!

So you can get shot at, defending your Country, or ask, "Would you like fries with that?"  And take home more pay.  And since you've not been taught patriotism, you just might choose McDonalds.  Instead of donning a uniform and protecting your Country. 

It would be easy to feel uneasy about what might come next.  But I, for one, am suddenly filled with hope.  A new sheriff is coming to town.  And those currently in the services of our Country who are thinking of leaving, may now choose to stay.  And those considering offering themselves up for service, may now be encouraged to join.  New leadership is on the way.  And leadership is what's been sadly lacking. 

As the Roman general Publius Flavius Vegitus Renatus once said, "In time of peace, prepare for war."  Nothing deters like strength.  We had the biggest and best military in the world when Trump was POTUS.  I believe we'll have it once again.  America has always found a way.  If you have a son or daughter without a career plan, might I suggest they consider our military.  

And then let us, the Taxpayers, pay for their college educations when they come back...