Any vets among the Audiophiles here?

The war spending is bankrupting our country and reducing the number of discretionary dollars that can go to audio purchases. Have you been effected yet?

And the argument about helping the disadvantaged of the world would be more credible if we weren't quite so strategic about who we choose to help with our invasions. And if we cared more about helping our own, especially the veterans.

Any dissatisfied vets among Audiophiles who hear, and see, what's been done to this country this past generation could be equally as great a discussion other than "I bought my first Sansui receiver at the Yokuska Navy Exchange during my tour of duty in '73." It's great to walk down memory lane reading all these posts. Takes me back to my first WestPac tour...you know way back when America had two major bases in the Phillippines. Why'd we leave? Oh, silly me, that's right, we were told to get the bleep out. It's been downhill ever since we were told to leave Clark AFB and Subic Bay.

There's no true moral compass in this country. Where's my proof? What's the original date of this thread? 15 months after the second Gulf war was initiated. And it's still going with no end in sight. Never mind the recent troop withdrawals. There's your proof. Anyone with half a brain knows USA has no intention of leaving that part of the world. And to think how so many experts mocked the war critics when they mentioned beforehand that entering the gulf would be another Vietnam. Meanwhile, the drum beat of war continues. I can understand the desire to wish it all away and drown out the sound of young fellow vets dying daily by cranking up the tunes, but hey that won't change the fact kids are dyin', and for what?

Spare me the flag wavin' of the mass produced USA flags made in China whilst China now owns much of what used to be known as America.

U.S. Army Infantry '87-'91. Mostly Ft. Hood, where there was no light infantry, but spent a year in Korea. While I was in Korea I picked up a Carver CT7 pre-amp and a Yamaha MX1000 amp. Also got a couple of Kenwood MV5 monitors. Blew the Yamaha up back in the states and picked up a Carver TFM25 amp at FT. Hood. That stuff replaced my Marantz 2226 when I got home. I still have the Marantz.

And if that questioning would/could establish a better form of democracy than we've experienced the 55 or so years of my lifetime then I for one would be proud if that questioning began on an AG forum. Coltrane1

Coltrane1 -- if you want to question that point. Fine, then start another thread. I'll even join in. My point is, this thread was meant to be about veteran audiophiles. Most, if not all the posters prior to your post and Macrojack's post, simply listed their tours of duty and maybe some of the equipment they picked up while serving.

We did it (posted) without any flag-waving or chest- beating. We did it without social or political commentary. We did it without trying to justify, or bitch, about our service. I didn't see any flag-waving and as far as I know, no politican has come into this thread to use or abuse any vet. Someone asked the question back in June of 2004 if there were any vets on these boards. And pretty that much has been what this thread has been about until your post.

So I ask myself this question, why is it that someone feels the need to come in and derail the thread? That might not be your intent, but we have wandered pretty far a field, talking about China, slavery, continuous war, defense spending.

Thank you for your service, BTW.

Pettyofficer, I appreciate the spirit of your post but I am not sure this thread is meant to be about slavery either.

The war spending is bankrupting our country and reducing the number of discretionary dollars that can go to audio purchases. Have you been effected [sic] yet? Macrojack

Macrojack, yes, I have been affected, but not nearly as much as the spending (paid for, of course, by me and thee) on non-discretionary entitlement spending since that piece of the federal budget dwarfs defense spending.

So now I have gone and done it and made my own, but last, political comment in this thread.

Leave it to me to shine a flashlight of reality check and ruin a perfectly good fantasy, aka, a gov't run amuck.

It may only be my experience, but Caveat Emptor's share something in common with dictator's...each has a short shelf life with those they attempt to rule, control, or dictate to...especially to former vets who've served both their country and their community vocationally their entire lives.

Finsup, unbeknownst to you, you're addressing a vet in a free speech public forum, who also happens to be a retired law enforcement official that spent his entire career having no idea it was illegal to go off topic in an audio forum.

Thank you for enlightening least of all me, and thank you for your service as well.

And might the record reflect that I've nothing but gratitude for the 4 years I spent serving and never expressed otherwise. I'm of the belief it's far more patriotic and honest to point out a truth than it is to wave flags and romanticize over a past life whilst ignoring what's actually happening now.