Liberal Forum

The modern day Democratic Party hardly seems like the pacifists they were in the past. They have been forced to become more hawkish under the threat of being called 'soft on terror'. They had that excuse in the Bush years, though I wish they hadn't used it. The media, in any case, didn't--so they had no excuse not to be raising legitimate worries about war and civil-rights abuses than they were (and are). It would obviously be politically disastrous if we were attacked again on their watch in the process of their de-funding defense and counter-terrorism programs. Nevertheless, I worry that we ended the conversation about how safe the American public has to feel in the dangerous world we're living in. The fact is that directing so much of our nation's wealth increases suffering and death within the nation that wasn't caused by explosions created by terrorists. The media should be discussing such issues more seriously--instead of just ridiculing the Tea Party, Ron Paul, and etcetera.