Philip A. Farruggio -- World News Trust
Jan. 28, 2016
This is my perspective after watching the Sunday evening Democratic Town Hall:
During the entire TWO HOUR telecast, encompassing the views of the three candidates, not ONE mention of the more than 50 percent of our tax money going for military spending. Not one mention of the 1,000 bases worldwide and the cost to us both in money and world perception of us... and how much of this money (even a scant 25 percent) could solve many of our economic woes. Not one word!!
To those out there who argue with me as to why I refuse to get on the Sanders’ bandwagon, he handled himself very well last night... even outscored the other two... but... when asked repeatedly how in the hell he could fund all the wonderful ideas he has (and they are truly wonderful) Sanders would NOT go down that path on military spending and empire. Why? You know why now. He is a Democrat first and a "democratic socialist" second. Matter of fact, I challenge if he is even that. Why? Well, a true "democratic socialist" would be vigorously opposed to spending more than 50 percent of our tax revenues on the military and weapons of war and occupation. Not Bernie, because he knows how his NEW party and the empire would cancel out his run.
So, we have another circumstance of "politics over principles." How many fine young supporters of Bernie Sanders, who are new to this thing called politics and activism, will remain oblivious to our Military Industrial Empire due to his consistent avoidance in mentioning it? What Sanders is doing, sadly, is giving legitimacy to our illegal and immoral invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, our use of extraordinary rendition (still happening under this Democratic president), and our drone missile attacks (10 times more under Mr. Obama) and of course the aforementioned obscene military spending and 1,000 bases worldwide. Sad indeed, for a guy who I do admire for his stand against the corporate banksters.
Philip A Farruggio
(Philip A Farruggio is a semi-retired baby boomer born and bred in blue collar Brooklyn NYC. He is the son and grandson of Brooklyn longshoremen, and educated at "free tuition" Brooklyn College, class of '74. Philip has written more than 300 columns since 2001 and his work is found on many fine progressive sites like World News Trust, Nation of Change, Information Clearinghouse, Intrepid Report, Sleuth Journal, Dandelion Salad, Counterpunch and Dissident Voice. He can be reached at