Rural Casualties
When it was pointed out to Bush that the only people actually sacrificing anything at this point are the Army and Marines and their families. Bush replied: “Well, you know, I think a lot of people are in this fight. I mean, they sacrifice peace of mind when they see the terrible images of violence on TV every night. I mean, we've got a fantastic economy here in the United States, but yet, when you think about the psychology of the country, it is somewhat down because of this war.”
According to a study by demographer William O’Hare, the death rate for “rural soldiers is 60% higher than the death rate for those soldiers from cities and suburbs.”
Rural youth join the military at higher rates than those from metropolitan areas, because rural areas offer young people few alternatives to military service. The opportunity differential between rural and urban America is higher now than at any time in history. The situation is best describes as “economic conscription.”
Rural school districts must spend more money to attract and retain quality teachers. Dalton Trumbo’s novel “Johnny Got His Gun” and "War is a Racket" by Major General Smedley Butler should be required reading.
State and federal government need to increase public funding for higher education rather than continue to shift the cost to students and their parents. Our public education system is no longer the great equalizer in our society.
It’s time to acknowledged that the current carnage in Iraq was unleashed by the poor judgment of voters in rural areas. Rural areas throughout this country have an inattentive electorate and Bush’s claim of a “fantastic economy” is untrue.
Morality demands that we protect our youth from being brainwashed, into becoming “a gangster for capitalism” and cannon fodder for corporate war profiteers.
According to a study by demographer William O’Hare, the death rate for “rural soldiers is 60% higher than the death rate for those soldiers from cities and suburbs.”
Rural youth join the military at higher rates than those from metropolitan areas, because rural areas offer young people few alternatives to military service. The opportunity differential between rural and urban America is higher now than at any time in history. The situation is best describes as “economic conscription.”
Rural school districts must spend more money to attract and retain quality teachers. Dalton Trumbo’s novel “Johnny Got His Gun” and "War is a Racket" by Major General Smedley Butler should be required reading.
State and federal government need to increase public funding for higher education rather than continue to shift the cost to students and their parents. Our public education system is no longer the great equalizer in our society.
It’s time to acknowledged that the current carnage in Iraq was unleashed by the poor judgment of voters in rural areas. Rural areas throughout this country have an inattentive electorate and Bush’s claim of a “fantastic economy” is untrue.
Morality demands that we protect our youth from being brainwashed, into becoming “a gangster for capitalism” and cannon fodder for corporate war profiteers.
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