Are you one of those people that do not vote because you feel that your vote doesn’t matter? Then take a look at the two headline stories in today’s news and consider the role our president played and the impact his decisions will have on our future.
BERGDAHL – The debate over circumstances surrounding the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl rose in intensity yesterday as new facts were brought to light. We now know that just days before Bergdahl left his post he sent an email to his parents that contained harsh criticism of the US and its mission in Afghanistan. Bergdahl’s father responded by counseling him to follow his conscience. Three days later Bergdahl apparently put down his weapon and left his post. We now know that subsequent efforts to find and return Bergdahl to base resulted in the deaths of six US military personnel.
The president was aware these facts when he decided to trade five high level Guantanamo detainees for Bergdahl’s release. He was also aware that he was required by the constitution to give congress thirty days notice of his intent to affect such a release/transfer; a notice he did not give. He was aware that the US has a policy of leaving no soldier behind. And he most certainly knew that the US has a policy of not negotiating with terrorists.
The president has stated publically that he wants to close the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay. He has ordered that all military forces be out of Afghanistan by the end of 2016. He is aware that the Taliban have stated repeatedly that their beef with the US stems from America’s military presence on Afghan soil and US interference in the Afghan way of life. In essence leave us alone and we’ll leave you alone.
Did the president’s decision to embolden our enemies to act in a similar fashion as his critics have suggested? Did his decision endanger our national security? Did he violate the constitution? Should he have taken this step on behalf of a soldier who it appears violated his oath, deserted his post and placed his fellow soldiers at risk?
EPA – The president has ordered that all manufacturers reduce their carbon based emissions 30% by the year 2030. The order amounts to the largest ecologically based transformation in our history. Critics say that the president’s decision will decimate the coal industry, weaken the economy and cost the country 800,000 jobs.
We are not going to get into the pros and cons of each of these major decisions. It is way too early to determine the long term impact of the president’s actions. What we can say with a great degree of certainty is that these decisions will have a tremendous impact on our foreign policy, our economy and our way of life.
The president made two decisions within the past seven days that will change the nation. The upcoming mid-term elections will have a major impact on whether this president can continue to move his agenda forward during the final two years of his presidency. Whether you agree or disagree with his decisions this much is certain.
Elections matter!
Vote!
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