LoBiondo Facts

U.S. Representative Frank LoBiondo has painted himself as a moderate. Our mission is to educate the public about his arch conservative voting record and to unseat him in 2006. Our website can be found at www.cpr4nj.org.

About Me

Name:
Location: New Jersey, United States

Citizens for Progressive Representation (CPR) is a nonprofit grassroots organization, founded in New Jersey, with a mission to bring truth to politics, to remove targeted incumbents from office, and to elect progressive and socially responsible candidates. Our website is located at www.cpr4nj.org.

Monday, July 25, 2005

With Bonuses, Tuition, Army Preys on Young

A July 15th article in The Daily Journal reports that the N.J. Army National Guard is opening a store-front recruiting office on Landis Avenue in Vineland and has already opened one in Elizabeth. Well, I have to give them credit, they did their homework. It wouldn't do them any good to open one in Short Hills or Spring Lake Heights or Upper Saddle River. Most of the young men and women in those neighborhoods don't need $10,000 bonuses or the promise of free tuition for state or county college. Most of them would just laugh at the recruiters. I am so angered and saddened by the fact that, because we give young people a bonus and promise college tuition, they are willing to enlist and put their lives in jeopardy. The bonuses are more money than some of their families have or will have in their lifetimes, but that money is nothing compared to the love we know they have for their children. It means more for them to have those children alive and well, not injured or dying in an unnecessary war in Iraq, a war that has made the world less safe. With college tuition going up, loan rates rising, grant money being depleted, and most available jobs dead ends, what can they do? Young people are patriotic, love their country and sincerely want to do their part, so it probably appears to be a golden opportunity. They look at army commercials, like exciting video games and feel invulnerable, thinking they won't be hurt, they won't be coming back crippled or in a body bag. I've just about decided that we should bring back the draft, not because I want any of our children to be forced to serve. But, if the children and grandchildren of the poor are needed, then so are the children and grandchildren of the wealthy, the Senate, the House, the Bush Administration and anyone else whose policies send our young to fight their wars.
BETTIE J. REINA
Milmay
Letter Printed in The Daily Journal, July 25, 2005

posted by Citizens for Progressive Representation | 5:52 AM

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

<< Home