The appeals are coming from many organizations over the email asking us to write Congress in opposition to another round of military spending for fiscal year 2015. The Pentagon is asking for $601 billion but those numbers will be supplemented by the secret military black budget; the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons development; militarized half of NASA's budget; and many more examples. Add that all up and we top the $1 trillion mark. We are a killer nation.
The appeals to contact Congress are helpful so that we know what is going on. But those appeals are missing one very important ingredient. They usually don't mention the fact that the Democrats and Republicans are on their bended knees begging for more Pentagon $$$ in their congressional districts. How are we to really end military spending when both parties are slaves to endless war?
Our good local liberal Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is at the front of the line with hands extended on behalf of the military industrial complex. When asked to talk seriously about converting the military machine she demurs.
All the soccer moms, and high school theatre club moms organizing bake sales, and sportsnik dads grilling burgers to raise $$$ for Little League are trying to create a good future for their kids. But we are all sinking fast. There is little articulation and truth coming from these quarters about the real needs and how we can best deal with them. Can we really fund the schools with bake sales? Folks are reluctant though to rock the boat.
But the big money ain't in bake sales and BBQ's. The real cash money is inside the sanctified vaults of the weapons industry. And they know they got a good thing going!
One can only hope that the public will begin to find more courage. I'm going to Kansas next month to see my son who will be there from Taiwan where he coaches debate. I'm going to try to see the Wizard of Oz and look for ways to get more courage.
1 comment:
"The appeals to contact Congress are helpful so that we know what is going on. But those appeals are missing one very important ingredient. They usually don't mention the fact that the Democrats and Republicans are on their bended knees begging for more Pentagon $$$ in their congressional districts."
BINGO!
How are we to really end military spending when both parties are slaves to endless war?
The right question.
It's a long, touch slog and involves ignoring those whose interests differ from ours, and putting effort instead towards changing the culture of glorifying war and killing at the margins. It means challenging our neighbors and citizens that accept money in ANY WAY from the Military Industrial complex, whether its pushing a broom in a nuclear facility, accepting a grant from a Foundation funded by military employees, or working in any more direct way in supporting weapons. We need to STOP blaming our politicians and accept responsibility for how we support war.
Post a Comment