You’ll see that I’m full of ideas this week, here’s another one. The one solution to the U.S.’s economic woes that everyone in government turns a blind eye to is a cutback on our biggest expenditure– preparing for war and then warring other countries. Perhaps we need an indirect route to becoming a peace-loving country.

Of course, the solution is right under our noses. What’s more American than volunteering? In small communities we have volunteer fire departments, schools, hospitals, animal shelters and hospices.

So, it’s kind of insulting to the people who provide their time and services for free to call our military a voluntary service. That’s like calling a salesperson at the Gap or a clerk at Costco a volunteer. Yes, the truth is all three, the soldier and the two workers, are all volunteers. They volunteer to sell part of their time on planet Earth for a few bucks an hour and to be exploited by the very rich. But that isn’t really volunteering. All three are working for food and shelter.

What’s more American than volunteering?

The Republicrats say that the way to solve the budget crisis is to cut spending, not raise revenues (taxes). So let’s look at where we are spending the most. I knew you’d guess the military. What if we made it truly volunteer? Anyone who wants can volunteer, for no pay. I’m sure the sadistic generals who send young people to fight and get injured or die would continue to serve. And a certain number of gung-ho hypersuperpatriots would wish to fight others who they think aren’t like them.

First they’d have to raise money for arms and equipment through bake sales, carwashes and the like. Most of their current funding would have to be rerouted to schools, education and re-industrializing the U.S., leaving very little left to spend on war. So, if you want that missile you can take up a collection at the office for war. “Hello, My name is Sergeant Wildman, and I’m trying to raise money to go kill people in Afghanistan. Could you contribute? Since our funding was cut we can’t get over there to fight for the oil companies.”

“Hello, My name is Sergeant Wildman, and I’m trying to raise money to go kill people in Afghanistan. Could you contribute? Since our funding was cut we can’t get over there to fight for the oil companies.”

Well Obama, did you ever think that you’d be the world’s biggest warmonger? The biggest arms dealer? That you’d fight against justice in Palestine? It’s all the result of your Marijuana Deficiency Syndrome (MDS). Gore had it too. Smoke a joint and get your head clear. End the budget impasse by making the army all volunteer. We will pay off the debt in no time.