In the local news today there is a story about an Army base not far from here restricting military members stationed at the base from patronizing certain auto dealer establishments. This shit happens all the time, no surprise.

What is surprising are the comments left by the public at large reading the story. I couldn't help it, left a comment that took it down to basics...

The fact of the matter is, the military restricts the personal liberties of individuals by punishing them if they do something that is perfectly legal for other citizens to do. This is not a defense of shady dealerships, it is a critique of the US military leadership mindset.

This is, of course, the truth. There is no running from it, no denying the basic fact that personal liberties are restricted for US military members. Some think this is ok, that military leaders, rather than take the time to educate military personnel about devious financial practices, simply put the chains on. Everyone accepts this as ok, with the rationale being that we should protect those that protect our freedoms.

The disparity, and the lack of acknowledgment, is discouraging.