Laz, I admire your spirit. Let me say that first off. And I do agree that the 2012 battle is one that can and must be won.
However, I look at my kids and I say to myself, “have I advocated for everything I can that will ease the crushing debt burden my generation is placing on them, and on my grandkids?” I have to conclude, very reluctantly, that the Republican Party didn’t do all it could do. Yeah, I’d have shut down the government over this. I could advocate for no less and still be able to look my kids in the eye.
Don’t forget: IIRC, about 40,000 British soldiers were taken prisoner at Dunkirk. They went into captivity — fighting the hopeless fight — so the greater war could be won.
Your point is well made, but those were mostly French soldiers - virtually all of the BEF in the Dunkirk enclave were evacuated, though hundreds died from bombing and strafing of their ships enroute to England.