If you are in favor of sending yet more money to the Ukrainian and Israeli military machines, plus a fresh dose for getting ready to invade the Chinese island of Taiwan, then you are on the side of Team Biden all the way–he wants 106 billion more pushed through Congress for that complex purpose.

You’re also on the same side as Lindsay Graham of course.

But you may not realize that it also positions you as being for the exact same foreign policy as George Bush the younger, about twenty years ago. Your friend and mine, Mitch the Turtle McConnell, made that perfectly clear when he used the same term Bush did, to wave the flag for more of this bullshit.

The ‘Axis of Evil’ is alive, well, and apparently expanding and thriving.

Empire logic says that we, the Good, must do more and more and more.

Only … somehow … the American people don’t want to watch this shitty Marvel sequel. Clear majorities (outside the neocon professional and managerial class) are for keeping that money at home to work on our own vast and thorny issues, and to get out of the business of policing the world.

Why is it that no one cares about what The People think, in this fair and blessed ‘democracy’?

Weren’t the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan a mistake based on lies and the interests of the elites? Do you believe that the new crop is any different?

Not deep down in your smart heart you don’t.

I’m well aware that Russiaman Bad. I understand that Hammas did wicked things, even if baby beheading wasn’t one of them, and even leaving aside all the evil that’s been done to the Palestinian people.

In the end I’m still left asking: so fucking what?

Bolivia and Malawi don’t think they have to run around the world with big guns and suitcases of cash trying to right every wrong, or even every thing that goes against the interests of their rulers.

Why does America think it must?

Are we … exceptional?

We are exceptionally crooked and hypocritical and bullying meddlers, maybe.

That didn’t start with Joe Biden, or with George Bush either.

It’s been that way your whole life.

It looks almost normal from inside the Empire.

Switch off that superfine mind for a second, and listen to your heart or your gut or something.

Where would you have stood, on Vietnam?

Where did you stand, on the Iraqi misadventure, and how do you feel about it now?

Is there someone else you’d really love to invade, or kill?

Or would you rather make a house for the woman with the sign, on the left turn island? Would you rather feed the hungry children of your neighbors?

There isn’t any doubt in my mind.

Look there, I signaled you my lovely Virtue.

I think it’s only fair that you show me yours.