Big Think

Robert Austin commented on Howard Zinn on Iraq: Advice for the Next US President on June 11, 2008, 12:07 PM

Why don%u2019t we allow the Iraqis to hold a nationwide referendum on whether or not the United States should promptly withdraw from Iraq? I have been wondering about this for some time. I have never seen this idea seriously proposed by anyone in our government, but it seems so obvious to me. The Bush administration touts that it has brought democracy to Iraq, and the world has seen elections successfully held in there. A referendum of the sort I propose is good for both the United States and Iraq. If the Iraqis vote %u201CYes, the United States should leave,%u201D the United States could then withdraw without losing face and without emboldening Al Qaeda, since our withdrawal would be implemented out of respect for the will of the Iraqi people, not be due to a loss of will on behalf of the United States. Alternatively, if the Iraqis say, %u201CNo, the United States should stay to help maintain stability,%u201D the United States can justify its continued presence in Iraq to itself and to the rest of the world. The United States would then be seen as a peace keeping nation rather than an occupying nation.

Robert Austin commented on Howard Zinn on Iraq: Advice for the Next US President on June 11, 2008, 8:07 AM

Why don%u2019t we allow the Iraqis to hold a nationwide referendum on whether or not the United States should promptly withdraw from Iraq? I have been wondering about this for some time. I have never seen this idea seriously proposed by anyone in our government, but it seems so obvious to me. The Bush administration touts that it has brought democracy to Iraq, and the world has seen elections successfully held in there. A referendum of the sort I propose is good for both the United States and Iraq. If the Iraqis vote %u201CYes, the United States should leave,%u201D the United States could then withdraw without losing face and without emboldening Al Qaeda, since our withdrawal would be implemented out of respect for the will of the Iraqi people, not be due to a loss of will on behalf of the United States. Alternatively, if the Iraqis say, %u201CNo, the United States should stay to help maintain stability,%u201D the United States can justify its continued presence in Iraq to itself and to the rest of the world. The United States would then be seen as a peace keeping nation rather than an occupying nation.

Robert Austin commented on What is the best way forward in Iraq? on June 10, 2008, 11:19 PM

Why don%u2019t we allow the Iraqis to hold a nationwide referendum on whether or not the United States should promptly withdraw from Iraq? I have been wondering about this for some time. I have never seen this idea seriously proposed by anyone in our government, but it seems so obvious to me. The Bush administration touts that it has brought democracy to Iraq, and the world has seen elections successfully held in there. If Iraq is stable enough for its people to participate in a general election, then the country must be stable enough to hold a referendum on US withdrawel. A referendum of the sort I propose is good for both the United States and Iraq. If the Iraqis vote %u201CYes, the United States should leave,%u201D the United States could then withdraw without losing face and without emboldening Al Qaeda, since our withdrawal would be implemented out of respect for the will of the Iraqi people, not be due to a loss of will on behalf of the United States. Alternatively, if the Iraqis say, %u201CNo, the United States should stay to help maintain stability,%u201D the United States can justify its continued presence in Iraq to itself and to the rest of the world. The United States would then be seen as a peace keeping nation rather than an occupying nation.

Robert Austin commented on What is the best way forward in Iraq? on June 10, 2008, 7:19 PM

Why don%u2019t we allow the Iraqis to hold a nationwide referendum on whether or not the United States should promptly withdraw from Iraq? I have been wondering about this for some time. I have never seen this idea seriously proposed by anyone in our government, but it seems so obvious to me. The Bush administration touts that it has brought democracy to Iraq, and the world has seen elections successfully held in there. If Iraq is stable enough for its people to participate in a general election, then the country must be stable enough to hold a referendum on US withdrawel. A referendum of the sort I propose is good for both the United States and Iraq. If the Iraqis vote %u201CYes, the United States should leave,%u201D the United States could then withdraw without losing face and without emboldening Al Qaeda, since our withdrawal would be implemented out of respect for the will of the Iraqi people, not be due to a loss of will on behalf of the United States. Alternatively, if the Iraqis say, %u201CNo, the United States should stay to help maintain stability,%u201D the United States can justify its continued presence in Iraq to itself and to the rest of the world. The United States would then be seen as a peace keeping nation rather than an occupying nation.

Robert Austin commented on What inspires you? on June 10, 2008, 3:33 PM

I want to amend my previous thought on what Senator McCain had to say. I do not like the last few lines I wrote, implying that Senator McCain was just another corrupt politician. Below is how I wish I had originally responded to Senator McCain's comments.Why are Senator McCain and so many others so afraid of universal healthcare? Would McCain and other opponents of universal healthcare have opposed the national interstate highway system instituted under President Eisenhower? The interstate highway system is a nationwide system funded by tax dollars. It has, for better or for worse, made possible of the tremendous growth of the United States economy since the 1950's. It is a publicly funded investment in our nation's economic health. Imagine such a system made up solely of privately funded highways with tolls every several miles! That is what our current healthcare system is. Why not look at our highway system as a kind of model for healthcare? We have a publicly funded interstate system that is indispensible for transportation and commerce, but we also have toll highways for those who are willing to pay extra in order to travel on better maintained, less cluttered highways. Our healthcare system can provide similar options. Make everyone invest in a universal plan that provides good healthcare for everyone, but give those who are willing to pay the option of more expensive private care. I have seen universal healthcare in action in Germany, and there is no question in my mind that the United States is far behind the curve when it comes to providing good healthcare to its citizens. I see no excuse for objecting to a program that provides better healthcare to its citizens at lower cost. By expressing his unequivocal objection to universal healthcare Senator McCain is allying himself with the moneyed interests of Big Pharma and the insurance companies rather than the citizens he is sworn to serve.