As we read about the men and women of our armed forces and the sacrifices that they and their families are making in the war effort, we cluck our tongues, sigh, and say, "Oh, well. That's what you sign up for when you join the military." Then we go on with our lives.

Except.

The whole war is being run on borrowed money. And our politicians in Washington have decided that this is a good time to cut taxes, everyone's taxes, but especially rich people's taxes. Way less money coming in, way more going out.

So there's a credit card bill coming, America, and it's going to be a vicious one. Who's going to pay for all this? Our kids. Will the boomers get their Social security checks? Maybe.

And what if we need to fight another war, and another? How will we pay for those?

You can't be a nasty, kick-ass-and-take-names, bellicose nation, fighting wars of vengeance in distant lands, and be a low-tax, small-government nation at the same time.

I remember when the old rock group Steppenwolf -- the guys who gave us "Born to Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" -- grew up a little and wrote a political number called "Monster." It's gotten lost over the years, but alas, I think it may be time to dust it off:

America, where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now?