THIS IS DISGRACEFUL – AT 7:40 P.M. ET:  We have the finest fighting forces in the world.  Not everyone is admitted.   What is outrageous is the number of young Americans who are completely unqualified.  Consider:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – A nonprofit group says that up to 90 percent of young Philadelphians are ineligible for military service because of criminal records, obesity or lack of education.

Pennsylvania-based Mission: Readiness released its report Monday. It says 1 million Pennsylvanians are ineligible for the same reasons.

Mission: Readiness is made up of more than 150 retired generals and admirals. The group wants state and federal funding for pre-kindergarten programs that it says give children a solid foundation for academic and personal success.

The report says 145,000 Philadelphians ages 18 to 24 cannot meet the military's medical, moral and mental standards.

Nationally, the Department of Defense estimates that 75 percent of young adults are disqualified from military service.

COMMENT:  That is absolutely stunning.   With all that is known about bringing up kids, about education, about nutrition, this is what we've produced. 

I just hope the military maintains its standards, and doesn't fall for the "we must understand other cultures" game that is bound to be played. 

As a nation, we have work to do.  The legacy of the lax, lazy, full-of-excuses 1960s, continues.

June 14, 2010