Letter: Military spending out of control

“The Force” is a chilling article in the Janury 2013 New Yorker magazine that offers a balanced and logical critique of U.S. military spending. Our military spending has become totally illogical.

From 1998 through 2011, our military spending has doubled to something north of $700 billion annually. We spend more on our military than all the other nations of the world combined!

In April 1953, revered five-star general and beloved President Dwight Eisenhower, delivered a stark speech warning of the perils of a burgeoning military industrial-complex. His warnings have ominously come true. Our military spending is robbing every U.S. citizen and is a major contributor to our colossal $16 trillion debt.

Lockheed Martin has contracts with the military worth approximately $30 billion a year and contributes some $15 million annually to 386 members of the 112th Congress. And this is just one of many military contractors. The military-industrial complex is big business — very big business. The resultant monetary/political power is simply scary.

Geographically defended by two giant oceans and staunch border allies, the United States is hardly in peril of invasion, so the question becomes why. Why do we need this much military?

The first popular answer is to “counter terrorism.” Terrorism has been successfully dispersed if not defeated and this may be the best we can hope for. Furthermore, one might deduce that our enemies are winning if we spend ourselves into oblivion.

The second answer might be to “project strength abroad.” I would ask why, but that is a topic for another day. My question today is about the need for overreaching quantity?

Do we really need 70 submarines, 12 aircraft carriers, 2,500 fighter aircraft and 300,000 troops overseas? And these are just the big-ticket items. The newest and yet-to-be constructed aircraft carrier (the new Enterprise) will cost over $20 billion and will require a crew of 6,000.

Finally, if just 10 percent of these dollars were parked at the feet of education, our national debt or mental illness, just imagine the positive implications; and maybe — just maybe — we and the greater world would be a safer/better place.

George Heard

retired petrochemical employee

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 08/03/2013

You are a broken record. If it's not Benghazi, it's DHS buying ammunition. I have already debunk your irrational assertions. I don't feel the need to do it again. If you want to live in your delusional little world, so be it. I just suggested that there are medications to help you.

2) Comment by Whatnow - 08/03/2013

Oh, they're not buying all that stuff?

3) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 08/03/2013

paranoia is treatable...there are excellent medications out there. just saying.

4) Comment by Whatnow - 07/03/2013

Hey, Tea_Slayer, maybe Homeland Security could use them with all the weapons and armory that they're building up along with all their nice new uniforms.

5) Comment by agagent - 07/03/2013

We could try a standstill budget but that would just lock in the elevated spending levels passed by the Democrats since they took control of Congress in January, 2007. Even the sequester was not a reduction in total spending for the year. The borrowing and printing of money cannot continue without consequences. When interest rates go back to normal we will be wasting a record amount on interest. We could have hyperinflation, and we will be sending enough interest payments to China to allow them to double their military. We will be weaker they will stronger.

6) Comment by prbeav - 07/03/2013

As it began, America had in mind focusing on the nation. For example, on page 235c of McCullough's JOHN ADAMS, Adams asserted: no European nation “wishes to see America rise very fast to power”; therefore, we should keep our distance, especially from their wars.>>>>This attitude prevailed until Pearl Harbor, 1941. Who can deny the unintended benefits to the Allied Armies of Japan's involvement of America into World War II?>>>>Nations must beware unintended consequences: We the People (defined in the preamble) has allowed our regimes to develop the role of mercenary for like-minded nations in the world.>>>>Each citizen should consider the preamble to the US Constitution, consider the meaning of the purpose "form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity," decide whether or not they are of We the People, and decide what to do about it.>>>>I recommend that we inform the world that we are withdrawing from the role of policeman of the world to focus on the US Constitution. Inform our enemies to recall that we will not limit defense of our borders and people. Let the people decide whether foreign travel is worth their personal risks. Let each of our allies react according to their nation's interest. Demonstrate co-operation with our allies, but not enemies who would dominate the United Nations.>>>>I have expressed opinion way beyond my qualifications, but within my intentions to vote for someone to represent me.

7) Comment by billynurse - 07/03/2013

There's plenty of fat in all departments to find and cut.

8) Comment by billynurse - 07/03/2013

Waste , fraud , and abuse are 3 of the major talents of our big-brother Government. Its' so easy when they're playing with someone else's money and little to NO accountability. I'm sick of seeing EBT cards used at ATM's for whatever they want to buy....and that's the iceburg tip.

9) Comment by InPVille - 07/03/2013

Just a taste of thousands of examples which could be cited of government waste none of which involve teachers, police, or firefighters. Nor do I have any information that payments to unions were involved: 1.) an audit of a grant to the city of Detroit to aid 400 low-income job seekers helped only two people. $148,000 was advanced to a downtown clothing store for this. Several department heads left after an inquiry was begun into the purchase of $182,000 in high-end office furniture. 2.) The federal government has asked that $157,169 be returned to DHHS by the GLCAC in Massachusetts including $57,282 paid to someone who spent workday afternoons playing video games and cards at a local club. 3.) $750,000 paid to create yet another recreation area for Guantanamo detainees. They already had two such facilities. 4.) About 1/3 of $500,000 given to a Connecticut agency for led-reduction work was spent for unnecessary, shoddy, or incomplete work. 5.) People in prison receiving unemployment benefits and food stamps. 6.) $300,000 used to bailout Senate barbershop 7.) Saginaw, Michigan spent $142,000 for 185 ranges and refrigerators that it could not document the need for 9.) John Edwards still owes $2.1 million federal campaign funds improperly received after dropping out in 2008 but has spent $836,712 on airfare, hotels, phone, and etc. 10.) $90,000 in housing program funds used to renovate a house sold for $51,000 and $105,000 spent to sell a house sold for $42,000 11.) While sitting in a New York State Prison an inmate claimed to have made $500,000. The IRS sent him a $327,456 tax refund. 12.) Navy pays $15 per gallon for "green" biofuels. But at least that wasn't a $500 Allen wrench. -[**]- There are more than enough places where if waste was removed, no need would exist to cut any "necessary" service.

10) Comment by DMJ - 07/03/2013

I'm pretty sure if we close our base in Germany, that country will manage just fine.

11) Comment by nimby? - 07/03/2013

DMJ , close a military base , see what happens to the area surrounding . Tea_Slayer , wanna go in halfs on a tank ? am looking at a WW2 Sherman for sale in northern Miss , but if we could get an M1 ! way cool ...

12) Comment by Chucky - 07/03/2013

386 members, all are Republicans ?

13) Comment by DMJ - 07/03/2013

So...because Medicare and Social Security cost more than Defense, we shouldn't cut Defense? I'm not sure I'm following your logic there. Besides, Medicare and Social Security help people. I'm not sure our incessant militarization always does.

14) Comment by agagent - 07/03/2013

"What if Families Handled Finances Like the Federal Government Does? In 2010, median family income was $51,360. If a typical family followed the federal government's lead, it would spend $73,319 and put 30 cents of every dollar spent on a credit card. This family would have racked up $325,781 in credit card debt—like a mortgage, only without the house. What credit card company would continue lending money to this family? INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS (2012)"--Heritage Foundation

15) Comment by agagent - 07/03/2013

Yes, federal government spending is out of control. Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security spending first exceeded defense spending as a percentage of GDP in 1976. In 2012 spending on these entitlements were 9.7% of GDP; whereas, defense spending was 4.7% of GDP. Most of the increase in federal government spending since the Democrats took control of Congress in January, 2007 has been entitlement spending. From 1970 to 2010 federal spending has increased 12 times faster than median family income.

16) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 07/03/2013

whatnow: No 21 for you..We are still producing M1A Abrams tanks just so we don't shut down the assembly line. We have more tanks in storage than we will ever need yet we are making more.... http://www.publicintegrity.org/2012/07/30/10325/army-tank-could- not-be-stopped

17) Comment by popseal - 07/03/2013

The Military Industrial Complex is bigger than large. It employs hundreds of thousands of taxpayers. By comparison, the Welfare Bureaucracy is shot through with inaffective redundancies, no taxpayers, and votes for the best liar every time. MIC provides tax money coming back (to say nothing of national defense) and the WB is a relentless parasite that ruins those dependent upon it.

18) Comment by Whatnow - 07/03/2013

Terrorism has been successfully dispersed if not defeated? Want to try that one again, George? Or was it a video? That is a talking point for an election by the present administration that was debunked with the Benghazi attack. Sad to know that we do have all this military might and can't rescue four men defending a U.S. installation after 7 hours of false hope. I agree with InPVille that George has tunnel vision on spending waste. Try all the money funneled to countries that hate us and providing weapons to dubious "allies". There is so much stupid waste elsewhere.( http://theeconomiccollapseblog.com/archives/government-waste-20-of-the-craziest-things-that-the-u-s-government-is-spending-money-on ) Take your pick...

19) Comment by DMJ - 07/03/2013

Amen, George. The Republicans love to say that government can't create jobs, but the Military (a giant jobs program as well as corporate welfare) is untouchable. it's insane. Also, I'd just like to point out the lengths to which we go to thwart terrorism ($$$, suspension of the 4th, 5th and 6th Amendments) but we won't do anything to prevent gun violence, which kills twice as many people as 9/11 every year. Something to think about.

20) Comment by [e-mail] - 07/03/2013

Listen to Mr. Heard and we've all had it; a balance of power is necessary and history has taught us this lesson numerous times. Our history also shows us that if we don't protect our sea lanes ability to use them freely will be taken from us.

21) Comment by Chucky - 07/03/2013

" $15 million annually to 386 members of the 112th Congress." If this is true then i (we) have a problem.

22) Comment by Spudaroonski - 07/03/2013

The U.S. military is the mother of all welfare queens. We give contracts to build fighter jets that don't work (F-35) and aren't needed and tanks as well. This is the actual generals telling our congress that these things aren't needed but congress in their infinite wisdom knows better. No one can tell us how much money goes to fighting terrorism. Another black hole that sucks our tax money down the drain. How much is this drone project going to cost? You know those cute little remote controlled flying death planes that are now used in other countries but will soon be flying over the friendly skies right here in the good old USA to spy on us. Oh that's right, shhhhhh that's suppose to be a secret. While we're talking about welfare queens lets not forget the billionaire owners of these sports teams that hold their states hostage for tax breaks and funding for new stadiums that aren't needed. And lets not mention the trillions of dollars that was given to the too big to fail and jail banks with no strings attached. But yes, by all means lets blame teachers, firemen, police and poor people for our financial woes. Oh and those evil unions. Can't forget the unions. If we could just get rid of those food stamps it would solve all of our problems. As if kids need to eat more than once a day. We have bombs to build!

23) Comment by InPVille - 07/03/2013

Mr. Heard has tunnel vision. Why single out military spending? Government spending in general is out of control. It makes absolutely no sense to go after one single area of government spending. Unless you deal with the systemic problem, the money taken from one area of over spending will only be used to increase the out of control spending in other areas. For example, at the rate of growth in entitlement spending; by the end of the century the entire federal budget will be taken up by entitlement spending. There will be not one single penny left for spending of any other kind. . . if you want to talk about out of control spending!

24) Comment by Bighug - 07/03/2013

Mr. Heard makes a good argument. In addition to the costs he mentions, another problem is that a large amount of that money spent by the military for supplies is spent in foreign countries. If spent here, it would help the economy. If spent overseas, it only helps their economy. Time to bring our military forces home.

25) Comment by InPVille - 06/03/2013

@George Heard: Playing games with numbers you are. -[**]- http://www.fms.treas.gov/mts/backissues.html - - - Total federal outlays in 1998 both on and off budget was $1,651,393 in millions of dollars. Total federal outlays in 2011 both on and off budget was $3,601,109 in millions of dollars. The 2011 outlays were 218% of the 1998 outlays. -[**]- In addition to warning about the military-industrial complex, President Eisenhower warned about politicians gaining undue influence over science and vice versa. http://mcadams.posc.mu.edu/ike.htm "The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present – and is gravely to be regarded. -[ parag ]- Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite."

26) Comment by tradewinns - 06/03/2013

1st and foremost our problem with education has nothing to do with funding and everything to do with useless parents and a spineless crowardly political leadership. i do agree we do not need to be overseas with bases all over the world. we have the technical resources and abilities to destroy any nation or leadership (including individuals) without invading a single country. by having troops overseas, we just make it easier for our enemies to find and kill our troops. we also spend almost as much on welfare in all types of freebees. that is the first place to cut and cut drastically. we not only are supporting the useless, our programs intice the creation of even more useless and the deceitfulness of the current overly generious systems.