We should not be abroad, at all, unless we are in a conflict, and at that time, families should not be there. Placing our armies and personnel abroad in peace time, should be a thing of the past. There are international schools in major cities all over the world, where the children of diplomats attend. I think that the service would attract more takers, if personnel could stay in their home states, for the most part, except for training, or conflict. There are some things that require highly specialized technicians, in that case, they should travel in 6 week rotations, twice in a year.
We waste a world of money on the system in place. Procurement officers, for instance, will travel in groups all the way to say, Florida, to purchase office garbage cans, from preferred providers. The system of purchasing, and favored contractors is more communist than socialist, actually. And it is that system that most fronts, the anti socialist mentality of our government.
As we stand, sure American kids need great American schooling overseas, so they can compete in any system they return to. The fact that we have had, and still have huges bases in Europe, since the fifties, has to be the most amazing waste of money. We need to just let people make what they make, and bring it to market. We need to be here, fabricate here, work here, buy here, grow here, and export to ready markets, and pay our taxes here. This idea of owning South America, or owning the oil of foreign nations, or lending to the elite in foreign nations leaving the poor to shoulder the debt, in exchange for their resources and future...shame on those practices.
What role does religion play in all of this? None, at all. We should not make law according to religion, human rights has to be the basis of law. We should not have diplomatic relations with religious institutions, religious leaders, should be welcome in Washington, as any other citizens, but at arms length, along with the rest of the special interest groups, and lobbyists.
I do not want the Reverend Billy Jo Ed Bob, determining what sort of education, or health care my daughters will receive, unless he happens to be elected. That just isn't happening here, here, it will be Brother LaVerl.