Tuesday, February 13, 2007

What's the opposite of 'wanker'?

Maybe you only know it when you see it, and the A.P.'s Andrew Taylor shows commendable signs of anti-wankerism as he reports that "Even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has been growing rapidly — by more than 10 percent in many years — White House budget documents assume consecutive cutbacks in 2009 and 2010 and a freeze thereafter."

The clip that impels me to particular praise is this...
The proposed cuts are unrealistic in light of recent VA budget trends — its medical care budget has risen every year for two decades and 83 percent in the six years since Bush took office — sowing suspicion that the White House is simply making them up to make its long-term deficit figures look better.
Thank you, Mr. Taylor. I suppose a perfect response might have used the "lie" word, but I understand the stretch that entails for a journalist. Still, you used the truth to create context in an admirable way.

As disappointing as that news may be, though, it comes as no surprise. Why, after all, should George Bush care about returning veterans when he doesn't care about soldiers under fire
The Army is working to fill a shortfall in Iraq of thousands of advanced Humvee armor kits designed to reduce U.S. troop deaths from roadside bombs — including a rising threat from particularly lethal weapons linked to Iran and known as "explosively formed penetrators" (EFP) — that are now inflicting 70 percent of the American casualties in the country, according to U.S. military and civilian officials.
The only credible explanation for the failure to solve this problem by now, after nearly four years of active combat a lack of concern that has led to a failure to make the protection of our G.I.s a first priority.

In case you were wondering, George Bush doesn't care about you, either.

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