(As we discussed in February, once he gets through Doug Lamborn it’s a laudable proposal – promoted by Colorado Pols)
I may disagree with Rep. Mike Coffman about some things, but he has a lot of guts to call for Pentagon cuts, like he’s been doing, especially since he represents a district near Colorado Springs.
It’s a truism that most politicians who represent communities anywhere near a military facility won’t suggest defense cuts, even if the cuts are unrelated to the military activities in their districts. It’s one for all and all for one, even if a tiny slice of the defense budget could change the world for millions and millions of people.
Pentagon spending accounts for about half of the federal discretionary budget, which is the portion of the budget that’s the focus of most beltway debate.
Current Pentagon spending is $696 billion, with $118 billion going to the Iraq and Afghan wars (our closest “enemy” China, spends about $120 billion, Russia $70 billion, Iran $7 billion).
Contrast this, if you feel like getting really depressed, with federal spending on clean energy development ($4 billion), Head Start ($8 billion), humanitarian foreign aid ($27 billion), and k-12 education ($43 billion). The entire EPA budget is about $10 billion, give or take a few billion.
The lives of millions of starving kids could be saved by spending $10 billion a year on basic health needs. Amory Lovins had written that we could rid ourselves of our dependence on oil in 10 years with a $20 billion per year investment. About $10 billion more would cover poor kids in America who are eligible for Head Start but don’t get it. The list goes on.
Against this backdrop, even the briefest look at the federal budget shows that Pentagon spending, even without the Iran and Aftghan wars, is way out of control.
Up steps Coffman, with the Tea Party mostly looking the other way, and suggests cuts in overseas bases, reductions in the active-duty force, and other idea, some of which have serious value.
He points out:
In early 2004, Osama bin Laden said one of his goals was to “bleed America to the point of bankruptcy.” In some ways, our strategy of counterinsurgency has played into his hands. Our current doctrine is a high-cost nation-building strategy that has worn out our military.
Coffman might derive his inspiration on this issue from the fact that he served in Iraq.
And by the sound of it, you have to think he believes the war wasn’t worth it, and he wants to spend tax dollars differently so America is less likely to repeat the mistake.
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How about we cut waste…and not immediately find new waste to spend it on? How about putting those savings back into American pockets to rebuild our economy?
It’s nice that you give credit where due, Jason, but I don’t think Coffman wants to spend that money. He just wants to save it.
Surely we can at least agree on that much.
1860’s – why waste money on a transcontinental railroad
1950’s – why waste money on an interstate highway system
1980’s – why waste money on creating an Internet
today – why waste money on food safety
Money spent by our government in this country goes straight into American pockets and is available to rebuild our economy.
Right before Coffman announced this plan and right after he said that county clerks shouldn’t bring bilingual ballots, he came out and demanded that Peace Corps pull out of China….
So, he is wrong on ballots and wrong onPeace Corps/China, but I can’t help but support him on this overall plan…
deliberately turned away constituents with views who do not match his own. His office staffers have lied to the camera (I’ve seen it) after town halls, saying that the majority of people there agreed with Coffman (they didn’t).
Coffman is throwing a bone to liberals by suggesting military cuts, because the new CD6 district will be more competitive, and he knows it. Dems also have a fantastic candidate in Joe Miklosi, his opponent. I think we will see more of this fake liberalness when he can suggest something he knows will never get votes. I don’t believe Coffman is sincere about this anymore than I believe George Bush got into Yale without his father’s help.
Call me skeptical. I’ve been watching this guy in office for years, and can’t wait until we get real representation from Joe Miklosi.
I have met him a few times and he has always impressed me.
Cutting boondoggle military programs and ceasing to overpay military contractors is long overdue. Pay the enlisted fairly, protect them as best we can, and cut the waste in all other areas.