After three years of economic inflation, an illegal immigration crisis, and rising crime, Americans have a lot on the line in this year's election. But the group with the most at stake might be military families. Those with loved ones currently serving, or parents of young people who will serve in the next four years, will bear the brunt of the foreign policy that comes out of the next Presidential administration. And if the current trajectory continues, the U.S. could end up deeper involved in more deadly conflicts.
With wars now raging in the Middle East and between Russia and Ukraine, while China threatens Taiwan and North Korea continues to launch projectiles and make provocative statements, the world has never been more dangerous. That means those now serving in the military, along with their family members and loved ones, must vote knowing their own livelihood could be at stake. "What is happening now is that a lot of Americans are saying I don't think my son or daughter needs to serve in this military," says Johnny "Joey" Jones, Retired Staff Sergeant and Iraq war vet, in a recent interview with Fox News.
Jones also doesn't believe our current foreign policy is helping America's stature on the world stage. "I don't know that any countries we want to be an ally, that we want to be on our side if something were to break out, are being inspired by the United States right now."
President Donald Trump projected the Reagan mantra of "peace through strength," largely avoiding military action or conflict during his time in office while strategically squeezing nations like Iran, China, and Russia and openly killing terrorists like Qassem Soleimani to send a blunt message to foes. President Joe Biden, on the other hand, has removed restrictions on China and Iran and helped Russia through his domestic energy policy, allowing all three nations to become more forceful and dangerous on the world stage. Jones says the U.S. response to the recent deadly attack that killed three American soldiers was too late and too telegraphed. "I want a president and administration that is so decisive and so well-planned, that before our own dead make it home, we've settled the score and deterred them from doing it again," he tells Fox.
It may not mean World War III, but the outcome of this fall's election will have repercussions far beyond our borders...It will decide what kind of world we live in for the next four years. "It's not that the American people don't have the appetite for war, it's that they don't trust our government to take them into war," says Jones. "That's what is scary...when the American people, who ultimately have to spend the money and shed the blood, no longer trust their government to send their sons and daughters or themselves to war."
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