Commentary

A Growing Movement Rejects Bloated Military Spending in FY2013 Budget


Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—February 10, 2012.  National community, labor, faith, and peace organizations have joined to oppose excessive military spending and work for significant reductions.

The organizations include RootsAction.org and the New Priorities Network, which unites U.S. Labor Against the War, Pax Christi, Military Families Speak Out, and dozens of other national and regional groups. In the past week, over 8000 of their members have contacted Congress to urge deep cuts in the Pentagon budget and increased funding for domestic jobs and services. Thanks to their efforts the US Conference of Mayors and numerous city councils have passed “bring our war dollars home” resolutions and pursued other strategies to tell federal elected officials: cut military spending and fund our communities. 

The majority of the public wants military spending reduced.* Initial cuts are now mandated by law.  The coalition believes that much larger cuts would make us safer, create jobs, protect the natural environment, expand civil liberties, and save lives. Shifting $300 billion from the military to education would produce a net gain of 5.25 million jobs.  The President’s FY 2013 budget proposal falls short of these goals, as do proposals from Republicans in Congress to undo even the cuts already required by law.

Participants include:

Cutting the military is a majority position. On January 3, 2011, Americans expressed their first choice of action. While 3% chose to cut Social Security and 4% to cut Medicare, 20% said cut the military, and 61% said tax the rich. On January 14, 2011, 52% said they would approve of cutting the military. Another poll, conducted January 15-19, 2011, found 55% choosing to cut the military as their first choice (taxing the rich was not offered), while 21% said cut Medicare and 13% said cut Social Security. In April, the Washington Post – ABC News found that 72% of Americans want to raise taxes on people with incomes over $250,000, while 42% say cut the military, 30% are willing to cut Medicaid, and 21% Medicare. Even Gallup says that 42% want to cut Homeland Security and 42% want to cut the military, while cutting Medicare and Social Security are at 38% and 34%.  According to Gallup, 22% say the United States spends too little on the military, but 39% say it spends too much. In fact, only 25% of U.S. voters believe the United States should always spend at least three times as much on the military as any other nation. In reality, the United States spends about seven times the closest competitor, a status that must have the support of significantly fewer than 25% of Americans. But fewer than that many Americans are aware of it.  When shown what the federal budget is and given the opportunity to change it, Americans significantly cut the military.

Source: www.rootsaction.org


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