Agenda - 02-08-2011 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 County and our society are suffering problems that could be solved if our taxpayer money were spent to provide .health, education, and economic opportunity at home. In 2009, the Illinois state legislature voted to call for end of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Carrboro recently passed a similar resolution. Several of you voted for a resolution opposing the Iraq war a few years ago. Municipalities all across the country have passed similar resolutions. These resolutions cause no harm to governments. Please vote honorably, either for or against the resolution. We live in extraordinary times. We are experiencing a society decline, a society in which democracy has been corrupted to the point that only our elected officials bind us to real democracy. The military industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about has successfully hi jacked our government as enjoying unprecedented levels of war profiteering with our money. If you send a message to Washington, your priority is beneath your constituents, and you understand the futility of spending funds on this tragic war. That would be a powerful message and an inspiration for those who value true leadership." Charlie Cleary from Orange County spoke. He said that he and some ex- veterans reviewed this resolution and they chose not to support it. He said that all of them are ex-veterans. He is a Vietnam veteran and he knows how people felt when they came back. He said that they were told to come back to the United States not dressed in their uniforms because they would be spat upon, and they were. He said that by not supporting your veterans, you are telling them that all of the things that they have done are in vain. He asked the County Commissioners not to support this resolution. Ben Lloyd said that in his 80 years of calling Orange County home, four years was spent in the service, 35 years was spent in some public and political involvement, and four years was spent as a County Commissioner. He said that in this entire period, nothing in his opinion has been as upsetting to him and as ridiculous as this resolution being considered. He said that nobody likes war, but cutting off funds for the troops is not the answer. He said that agreeing to do so sends a message to the Taliban, AI Qaida, and terrorists to come in and take over. He said that he read an article in the Durham Herald in October where Iran and Venezuela has formed a close partnership to establish a new world order that will eliminate western dominance. He said that the intent of these groups is to kill us. The President recently sent 30,000 more troops to end this situation over there. He suggested that the County Commissioners let Congress and the military leaders handle it. He said that Colin Powell was on Larry King Live last night and Colin Powell's statement was, "we must stay engaged and not walk away." This resolution is walking away. He said that he is embarrassed that a resolution such as this is even considered. Bobby Nichols said that he represented the WW II veterans. He spent a couple of years in the Navy. He did not do any fighting, but every person that he knows that has served in the military was willing to die for their country. He said that this resolution was the wrong thing to do. He said that terrorists are our big worry in this world now. He said that we need to pay our servicemen, and he is opposed to putting this money into education or anything else. He said that his son went to get a job and they told that him that he was overqualified. Bill Ray is from the northern part of the County. He said that for Orange County to ask the President to send 30,000 troops to Afghanistan and then deny him the money is ridiculous. He did not know that Orange County was getting involved in national politics. He said that the federal government should handle this. He said that he has been in the service three different times and if the service men and women are not supported, the country will go down the drain.