Troop charity

Have people always supported their troops materially in one way or another (in addition to their tax burden)? I don't know, but I do know that it was commonplace during WWII. That makes these kind of snarky comments unnecessary in addition to being untrue:

The number ONE request at Walter Reed hospital is phone cards. Because the priority of our government is to continue tax cuts for the likes of Paris Hilton, the government doesn’t pay LD phone charges and these guys, many of them amputees, are rationing their calls home.

Many will be there throughout the holidays.

Remember that most are from poor families. It is disgusting that they cannot keep in touch with family after what they have been asked to sacrifice for BushCo; especially this time of year.

Support the troops—cuz BushCo doesn’t. Send phone cards of any amount to:

Medical Family Assistance Center
Walter Reed Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20307-5001

They say they need an “endless” supply of these—any amount even $5 is greatly appreciated.

Why untrue?

1. "Our" government doesn't have a single priority. All needs are equally important, which is how you end up with $400 B deficits.
2. Tax cuts are the number one priority of people who want the government to be smaller. The Bush Administration and the Republican Congress have not enacted tax cuts in any meaningful way. They constitute less than 1% of "our government".
3. Paris Hilton is just one of millions of people who "benefitted" from cuts in her marginal tax rate. More than likely, the people who wrote this crap benefitted, also. I doubt that they sent extra money in to the DoD.
4. The government doesn't not pay for LD calls because of tax cuts - spending of all varieties is up, not down. Services are not being cut to "pay for" tax cuts: the services are being increased and thereby negating the tax cuts. Sheesh!
   
5. Most of these guys are not from poor families; frontline soldiers are more likely to be from working class families.
6. BushCo doesn't support the troops? And by implication, these people do? Let's see what happens the next time the Administration requests more money for things like, um, supplies.

I doubt they had this much compassion for the various victims of Clinton-era bombing campaigns.

On the other hand, this website demonstrates a great deal more genuine concern for soldiers. I encourage people to consider donating to both, regardless of the politics behind them. Remember that soldiers are among the few true public servants - they volunteer for a job which would pay a great deal more if it weren't the US Army or Marines. Agree with them or not, they demonstrate true professionalism - military bearing they call it - in the face of some pretty scary shit.

Question - does supporting soldiers make it easier or harder for the executive branch to conduct wars? Should you do it anyway?