Military parades for the presidents birthday, not cool

Herb Alpert - 100% cool!

It was warm and humid this morning, not ideal for Miss Miley’s walk but we went for a about a half mile before she let me know she was done. She had a rough night so I’m sure she was tired. Still, she enjoyed the smells of the day and did alert on a squirrel that she gave the business! Good girl.

I’ve been searching back in history for instances of large military parades in American history and finding them rare occurrences. Each instance is associated with a major military victory or an event like an inauguration. In fact I can only find 7:

· Grand Review of the Armies, 1865 after the end of the Civil War

· World War I Victory Parades, 1919 after the end of that war

· The ‘At War’ Parade, 1942 when civilians and government servants marched in solidarity with our troops in Europe and the Pacific

· Inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953World War II Victory Parades, 1946 after victory over the Axis powers

· Inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953

· Inauguration of John F. Kennedy, 1961

· Gulf War Victory Celebration, 1991

None with a service anniversary. So, the planned Army parade for DC, that just so happens to coincide with Trumps birthday is unique in American history. The cost is estimated to be between 45 and 60 million dollars. This extravagance seems extreme in a time when DOGE is cutting government spending left and right and laying off 10s of thousands of employees. That money could be better spent on homeless veterans or other dire needs. Instead, it will be spent on stroking the ego of a narcissist.

The government is cutting essential services, as I pointed out yesterday. Today I read that the US Department of Agriculture cut over $1 billion for school lunch program support and for food pantries. One food pantry I read about that primarily serves seniors can only supply 3 days of stable food to their patrons. They used to be able to supply 5 days. These cuts not only hurt those in need, but they hurt the farmers and food producers who supply to food pantries and schools. Every dollar spent goes back to farmers and food companies in America while feeding Americans. Why on earth would we do this?

Speaking of spending, the congress is trying to pass this “big beautiful bill” that will enable continuing and expanding tax cuts primarily supporting the wealthy and upper middle class. The spending cuts fall on the shoulders of the poor and working class as programs are taken away, like USDA funding for food programs (they don’t help the wealthy do they) or Medicaid. To add to the insult of this the tax cuts will add many trillions of dollars to the national debt which now stands at $37 trillion at last count. Estimates range as high as $10 trillion in additional debt. The debt cost us plenty! Last month alone the interest to service the debt cost $100 billion. $100 billion in interest – that doesn’t pay for a single thing of use to the American people. This is all insanity. How about this for an idea – let the tax cuts end, as they were designed to do, cut spending especially in the DoD. Apparently we are withdrawing from the world, so we don’t need as much spending, correct?

I’m not sure when we will awaken to the insane path we are traveling down. I hope someday soon.

On a personal and cultural note – my wife, Kathy, and I are joining friends and going to see one of my idols from my youth. See, I played trumpet in band, and the trumpet player who was my favorite, and still is, was Herb Alpert. Those Tijuana Brass records are just wonderful. I learned how to play Spanish Flea and Tijuana Taxi and any of his songs I could learn (the easier the better). Of course, I sucked but I aspired to someday play like him and to be as cool as him (I failed at both). He was, and is, the epitome of cool. So looking forward to tonight!

I hope everyone has a rewarding weekend no matter what you want to get done including nothing but resting. Kiss and hug those that you love that are within reach. Remember to love your fellow man, even if it’s out of pity for what they believe or stand for.