U.S. government must place America as its top 'National Interest'

-        How can the U.S. Government blindly furlough active duty/retiree medical staff, veteran’s affairs workers who are already backlogged and other critical personnel in lieu of reducing the amount of DoD funds being expended on foreign aid to include annual/biannual civil affairs humanitarian assistance in several countries around the world, planned coalition/training exercises, paying Afghanistan Armed Forces as well as subsidizing other countries militaries and maintaining a post-cold war presence in Europe?  The countries we are providing economic stimulus to feel that the support is warranted but must come to terms with the fact that if we cannot support our own U.S. citizens and infrastructure, we will eventually not be able to support them either.  As U.S. citizens, we need and deserve a government that puts our best socioeconomic welfare before that of other countries, regardless of the interim risk.  We place such pressure on America’s shoulders to foot the bill for helping to quell the tides of extremism, poverty and unlawful societies across the globe yet in our own backyard the very structures and systems put in to place to prevent these things from happening are deteriorating.  

      The time is now for the U.S. government to stop and think about what the future of America will be in the next 50 years and beyond.  Humanity, justice and the chance to prosper must be preserved here at home before we can profess ourselves to be a country capable of saving others.  America has proven over the turbulence of changing times that any person, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or religion can pursue their dreams without fear of oppression or discrimination.  Let’s get our home in order first, find out if those countries we have helped are willing to help themselves and work together instead of against each other to build a stronger America that future generations will value, respect and strive to protect.