How do military families balance personal political views with respect for civilian leadership?

I went into GW2 with a jaded view; no real plans were in place, no strategy other than kill the enemy. 20 years later, we are still paying the price for that foolishness.

I am 3rd Generation Navy, joined in 91. Pop was an old Cold Warrior sub driver who had the keys to Armageddon for years. Big Bro is the Black Sheep (Army), and Gramps joined to fight the Japanese that killed his brother, only to be a gunner on a cruiser facing the Germans.

Clear as mud? Good.

What are the main issues that have historically and currently divided Republicans and Democrats?

On the flip side, the poorest among us usually has a car, a tv, and an obesity problem, which you don't really see elsewhere.

I went from a kid who had lived and traveled all over the country, to a Sailor who lived/traveled all over the globe, living abroad for almost a decade. I've seen poverty that would make the hardest Conservative cry, and seen government abuse that would make the biggest Statist Liberal scream for revolution.

A lot of tongue biting happens, at least in my family.

What did someone say to you that instantly made you realize their life was in danger?

While I am a Never Trumper, am concerned about the environment (hey, I like clean air and water, sue me), and agree we need some form of social safety net, I also belive we cannot afford to have Daddy Gubmint be the answer from cradle to grave. We have a HUGE bureaucracy that was never meant to be in place, too many rely on government to be their be all/end all support system, and too many suck on that government tit. We need term limits at all levels. We need to scale back SPENDING on a major level…while not reducing tax receipts, at least not for the forseeable future, until we get the budget balanced, and make headway on the national debt.

Oh, and we're going to be in a major war inside of 5 years, so get ready for that.

We as Americans by and large live in a protected bubble of ignorance about the rest of the world. Now, before my Eurozone affiliates sneer “told you!”, that's largely because we have what are essentially 50 different countries all jumbled into one, where there are at least (by my count, anyway) 4 different dialects of English alone, not to mention all the other languages floating around, and most people are getting rather Balkanized in their views. Travel is a luxury most can't really afford. Not when 90% of the population is one bad injury/illness away from bankruptcy. Yes, I am pro-UHC; even with it's inherent issues, it's better than what we have.

Have you ever had a scary dream about a loved one or friend soon after their death?