Wednesday, May 20, 2009

There Are Times When NIMBY Makes Sense

Republicans and Democrats working together to keep the administration in line is something out of the ordinary but it has actually happened!

Yesterday the Senate cut $80 million slated to be used for closing Guantanamo Bay. Now if only the media quits over reacting by insisting it's a huge setback for Obama, things will be fine. Yes. He pledged to close the prison. There's just one little detail he has overlooked and that's what to do with the prisoners.

Their own countries don't want them nor does anyone else. Including us! I can't say that I think it's a great idea to house these people on our soil. It's too much of a reminder of the injustices they've suffered under international law, like not ever being charged, that could cause resentment to bubble over. Should revenge be sought having those prisoners in the U.S. might not bode well!

That of course is the reason for closing the prison - those injustices. There comes a time, however, when symbolism isn't always the best avenue. The prison itself is functional. No one has ever escaped.

Maybe keeping the prison open and extending the prisoners their rights would be just as effective as trying to relocate everyone. How often are prisons closed because of unpleasant happenings within? Change the behavior!

Regardless of the solution decided upon, I applaud the Senate for denying funds for a proposed action without a plan. Bailing out car companies and making up the rules as you go along is one thing. Making up the rules as you go along for dealing with alleged terrorists just to change a perception is something entirely different.

I go back to raising that cautionary hand of mine. It's better to proceed after things are thought through. Victories are empty when more harm than good is done!

2 comments:

Rinkly Rimes said...

Maybe give them a little island to live on! Actually, if they're truly innocent there's is a dreadful plight.

Reaganite Republican Resistance said...

Running the country is not nearly as easy as the previous 43 presidents made it look, eh Barry?

And as was obvious to the less-smitten amongst us, the pollyana gobbledygook he laid on the left to get himself elected was never going to work in reality- a fact that the calculating opportunist Obama likely knew full-well back when he was promising them the moon and the stars.

He'll use you, if you let him... that's how narcissists are.

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com