Now Is the Time to Stop Funding the War
This year, the United States government is scheduled to spend more than $622
billion dollars on the military budget, which includes an additional $171
billion dollars for the occupation of Iraq. In comparison, the US will only
spend $56 billion dollars this year on education and only $3.4 billion on
energy development. At the current rate of spending it will take 183 years of
alternative energy development to match one year of spending on the war in
Iraq, and eleven years of funding education for our children will still not
match even one year of spending on this war. We have seriously misplaced our
priorities, and it driving us further into debt, an estimated $9.357 trillion
dollars this year.
The US Senate has an opportunity to begin to turn the clock backwards this
week, in the name of our children and the future of our country. Last week the
House passed a bill which would create a timetable for withdrawing US troops
from Iraq, limit the ability of the CIA to torture prisoners and increase
domestic spending on budgetary priorities that need our attention here at home
such as universal health care, which would cost an estimated $169 billion
dollars to provide coverage to the remaining 47 million Americans who currently
lack health care coverage. For an additional $58 billion dollars we could
provide access to universal higher education for all students who want to go to
college.
The Democrats are on a swing, and that is better than having the Republicans at
bat, but the truth is that they are just more graceful at striking out. The
Senate is considering legislation that would add an additional $168 billion
dollars to the US federal debt to fund an additional year of bombers, tanks,
military bases, cluster bombs, hummers, and blackhawk helicopters for the
military in Iraq. What we need to do in the US Senate is stop funding for the
war in Iraq right now. As a candidate for federal office I would make it my
first priority to stop all military funding for the war in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
Right now ever American in this country holds a liability of $30,777 which we
owe to various banks, investment firms and foreign governments who have bought
the promisory notes which our government has issued with the promise of payback
at some future date. Over fifty percent of that debt is owed specifically on
military spending for the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, the first war in Iraq,
military expenditures in over 140 countries and even debt that is owed on the
wars in Vietnam and Korea that have not yet been fully paid. Our debt load is
enormous and it is the symbolic albatross around the neck of our children.
As long as we continue to vote for Democrats and Republicans who are bought and
paid for by lobbyists, corporations and country clubs we will continue to get
what they pay for which is more war, more military spending, higher gas prices
and declining competitiveness in the global market place. I urge you to write
to your Senator and tell them to vote no on more money for war and in November
to vote for candidates who care more about education and health care than
Halliburton and warfare. In Tennessee, the choice is clear. You can vote for
the Republican, Senator Lamar Alexander who will spend another $168 billion
dollars of your children's future, or you can vote for the Democrats, who have
funded the war to the tune of some $700 billion dollars to date, or you can
vote for peace by supporting candidates who will stop funding the war and bring
the troops home now.
Chris Lugo for US Senate
9 Music Sq So #164
Nashville, TN 37203
615-593-0304
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.voteforpeace.info
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