DANBURY, CONN. — Can we blame the sagging U.S. economy on our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan? According to Justin Raimondo, co-founder and editor of Antiwar.com, we can. He claims that American taxpayers have shelled out $1 trillion for combat operations and war-related activities since 2001.

At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 10, Raimondo will give a talk at Western Connecticut State University. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be in Room 218 of the university’s Westside Classroom Building, 43 Lake Ave. Extension in Danbury.

Raimondo, also the author of “Reclaiming the American Right: The Lost Legacy of the Conservative Movement,” will focus his discussion on the status and future of the American antiwar movement and why Americans should care.

“Both parties, being creatures of Washington, believe that the inhabitants of the Imperial City know what’s best for the world, and are entirely qualified to run it, sending troops hither and thither to repress native revolts with the same hubristic disdain they display for the folks at home,” Raimondo said.

The discussion is sponsored by the WCSU Social Sciences Department and the Ridgefield Liberty Cooperative. The RLC is offering a $1,000 prize to a high school or college student who submits the most thoughtful essay (maximum 300 words) on Raimondo’s topic. The deadline for entries is Dec. 1. and the winning essay will be announced Dec. 10. The judging panel includes WCSU faculty, authors, high school principals, professionals and journalists representing diverse perspectives.

For more information see www.ridgefieldlibertycoop.org or contact Richard S. Land at (203) 744-1929 or by e-mail at rsl@danburylaw.com

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