More cuts needed at Pentagon | LETTER TO THE EDITOR


November 25, 2011 · 7:26 AM

To the editor:

Our Washington state senators are right now hearing loud and clear from the Pentagon and defense contractor lobbies.

The Defense Department is fighting to hold onto $500 billion over the next 10 years — the “sequestration” that will kick in if lawmakers fail to reach an agreement on U.S. deficit reduction. As time runs out and there is no sign of a compromise, the Pentagon and its contractor friends have regaled our representatives with tales of the catastrophe that an 18 percent cut to their budget over 10 years will cause.

I, for one, want to see a bigger cut to the Pentagon budget. I’d like to see that money go into more productive endeavors closer to home; investments in renewable energy, rebuilding our infrastructure, much more money spent on education and other productive efforts that will help to rebuild our economy.

Make your voice heard, as decisions are being made in “the other Washington” right now. Do you want a bigger Department of Defense? Or would you rather see scarce resources spent on other things?

DAN VORHIS

Freeland

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