Posted on 05/19/2006 7:37:38 PM PDT by muleskinner
The real threat to U.S. security
By Rick Steves
Special to The Times
Rick Steves
The greatest risk to our society today is not Islamo-fascist terrorism, but the people who use that term to scare us. As the human, fiscal and ecological damage caused by our nation's economic priorities grows, it's becoming clear that we're addicted to more than oil — we're addicted to military spending, too.
The United States spends as much on its military as the rest of humanity combined: more than $400 billion annually (not including the hundreds of billions of dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan). These military expenses are "off limits" as we sharpen our collective pencils to find $39 billion to cut from domestic programs. And yet, despite our already huge military expenditures, these days it's hard to get elected without promising even more military spending.
Recently, San Francisco Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval appeared on the Fox News program "Hannity & Colmes." Frustrated by our government's budget priorities, Sandoval suggested America would be better off without a military. Instead, he said, "we should invest our money in our kids." Right-wing pundits pounced on these statements, and even many prominent Democrats distanced themselves from Sandoval.
Should we abolish the American military altogether? Of course not. But daydream with me for just a moment: What if we gradually scaled down military spending, chose not to rush off to foreign wars based on questionable motives, and began to take the name of our "Department of Defense" literally?.....
(Excerpt) Read more at archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Steve! Screw you, hippie!!
Steves represents the exact approach the democrats will take if they are allowed back into power. The democrap party hates the need for a military so they simply deny we need the military to be strong and powerful. Osama and company are likely pouring over their assets seeking a way to aid the democraps back into power. I look for terrorists attacks this summer, to create -with the ever present aid from the mainstream anti-america media whores- the notion that this administration and Republican leadership in House and Senate hasn't done a thing to thwart Osama's goals so it's time for a change. THAT will be the democrap party theme for 2006 elections, time for a change. Osama's allies in America -the democrap party and mainstream media whoredom- will busy this summer don'tchaknow.
"The United States spends as much on its military as the rest of humanity combined..."
Um, yeah, we also spend more on potato chips - and pretty much everything else - than all the rest of the world combined.
And about 75% of the UN's charity budget comes from US contributions (nearly all the rest comes from Japan.) Oh, but if we cut back on defense spending then all the horrific problems of all the Socialist refuse dumps we're propping up would miraculously be cured, and they'd suddenly stop trying to commit genocide.
Hell of a plan, there, ace.
I'm laughing out loud at your reply. You make a lot of good points. Apparently whoever taught the guy how to write an essay never taught him to check it for internal contradictions in logic before he submitted it.
Amazing-- Rick Steves and Osama bin Laden have the exact same dream.
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