War

War has been a fact of life since our distant ancestors stood upright and realized that their hands were now free to hold rocks. While eventually, we may evolve beyond war, it isn't going to happen in the foreseeable future.

That said, what do we do with the mess we're in today? We have two wars going on, and there seems no end in sight. At the same time, we are, as a nation, in debt one and a half trillion bucks. And, no, none of us can wrap our heads around that number.

Being a simple person, I have a simple solution: a war tax. If we're going to dash out and make war, we shouldn't wrap it in a sugar pill, leaving the bitter taste for some future generation. If we have a war now, we should pay now.

When congress votes money for a war, that should automatically include a tax, starting that same day, a tax on every wage earner, every business and corporation, every pension.
This would accomplish three things. It would remove the disconnect between the war and its repercussions on our economy. It would also pay as we go, rather than ratcheting up a debt that will have us paying interest for generations. Finally, watching that money disappear from each paycheck may cause us to stop and ask ourselves if this is a necessary war.

Americans are willing to pay for a necessary war, but maybe not for one of choice.