I also get to prepare answers to possible questions. Whether the questions – or answers – ever get stated in a public forum is not terribly relevant. Inquiring minds will just have to read this blog.

Q: So, Ratigan, you’re a Bolshevik (or Communist or Socialist), right?

A: Let me respond by first outlining some of my positions.

I agree with the Libertarians on many things: that government has no business in our personal lives, and decisions about abortion, sexual partners, etc., should be left up to the individual; that democratic principles enshrined in our Constitution and 800 years of legal tradition, such as habeas corpus, must be protected; and that we have no business fighting costly and brutal wars to make the world safe for ExxonMobil and Halliburton.

However, the Libertarians would like to eliminate government altogether. To them, municipal garbage collection and public parks represent creeping socialism. I believe that our capitalist system has proven itself to be utterly incapable of solving fundamental social problems, such as racial and class discrimination in public education and the unavailability of health care for a huge segment of the population.

I believe that our entire society, the whole social organism, must work together for the social needs of all. If such an approach defines socialism, then, yes, I’m proud to proclaim myself a socialist.

I received a private comment to my last post from “Blackbird” in which he wondered what my last question was. True, it failed the Alex Trebek test, but I was just putting out the gist of the argument. Blackbird suggested that the question might center on cutbacks in veteran health care, disability pensions, etc. That’s an excellent idea, and I know Don Young has been involved in the “privatization” (read “slashing”) of veteran benefits. I haven’t found the facts though, and I solicit the help of readers.

Another approach is just to lay out the raw numbers on post traumatic stress disorder, major depression, and severe anxiety. These numbers are hard to come by as well, but I’ve seen 17% to 31% for army and marine personnel, and a “considerably higher” rate among National Guard and Reserves. This last is understandable when one considers that members of the Guard and Reserves tend to be older, more likely to have children – even grandchildren – and so are more sensitive to the brutalization of families, etc. In fact, this is precisely why the Army prefers young men and women, whether as volunteers or draftees. Thanks to Red Wood for the excellent link on some disheartening numbers.

Given that our forces are being sent into an absolutely insane situation, what’s amazing is that any come home mentally whole.

In cruising the Internet I came up with another angle: at least 100 family members have been murdered by returning veterans, not counting the suicides. Once again the official line is that the exact number is impossible to determine! (How preposterous is that?) Anyhow, there are probably several hundred children who will grow up without one or both parents. This one, in its raw form, may be too nasty for prime time.

To conclude for now: all this will probably come up in the rebuttal phase – one minute! – where it’s still a good idea to finish with a question. As for the opening jab, well, you may just have to tune in.