Next challenge includes U.S. deficit reduction

Next challenges include deficit reduction. This is a hot issue for all of us. But reduce the defense budge? It will take our citizen voices loud and clear to convince our legislators, because the biggest five defense contractors in just nine months this year, through September, spent a whopping $91,906 per member of Congress to lobby for more Pentagon spending. Our Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo was in Washington, D.C., prior to the election, being lobbied against any cuts.

Hawks cry national security, but too much spending makes us less secure as it ratchets up the deficit while bleeding crucial social programs, already hard hit. Even with the 10 year/billion reduction contractors are hollering about, the defense budget would still rise. Just not quite so much. Military spending more than doubled 2001-2010.

Defense? The United States spends more than the next 17 nations on the list. Job? Some loss possible, but for every 100 jobs in defense we could have 251 in education, 169 in health care or 147 in clean energy. We need infrastructure, and research and development. We need to balance our priorities.

(Information source: highly regarded Friends Committee on National Legislation)

JEAN MARYBORN

Sandpoint