I guess being a veteran and the ex-wife of a career veteran makes me kind of numb to government fraud, waste and abuse. It's not that I don't care, it's that I've been around it or known about it for so long and I now know nothing will change because age and experience shape your perspective.

I was an idealist in my younger years and got fired up about a lot of things. I can't tell you how much I likely annoyed the crap out of the aides at the offices of those I voted into office with letters upon letters about the travesty of whatever was going on at the time. Seriously, I was high speed low drag. I was going to be the change I wanted to see in the world. Or at least vote people into office who could accomplish that lofty goal.

One of the first times I really realized there are some things that will never change was when I visited Dachau while living in Germany. Actually my time in Germany in general opened my eyes to a great many things but I digress. I don't know if it was that the concentration camp and all of its physical horrors was still there after all that time had passed. I don't know if it was because we went after 9/11 and I realized evil isn't ever really conquered, it just goes to ground when confronted until something revives it. The 20 years since then has made it more real.

We fought a country that is almost literally as old as the land it stands on. Thinking of Afghanistan here. How many wars have they fought and no one has defeated them. There are people there now who live exactly as their ancestors lived 200 years ago. 100 years ago. 50 years ago. Nothing changes in those places no matter who they're at war with or what century they live in.

So, yeah, I should be angry about things like government fraud, waste and abuse at all levels but I have other things to be angry about that are more within my ability to change. Or not. I'm likely delusional about that part.

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