Christopher Jones’ letter (Herald, March 11) expresses concern that yet another democratic president wants to cut the military budget to the bone, and in doing so, it will embolden our enemies. But blame all current political parties. The U.S. military budget in 2012 totaled $682 billion dollars. The combined military budget of the 10 next-highest military budgets by country (China, Russia, U.K, Japan, France, Saudi Arabia, India, Germany, Italy and Brazil) was $652 billion. U.S. military budgets have become morbidly obese, and I doubt the government has a budgetary knife long enough to even reach bone.
I don’t know Jones, but judging his comments, I assume he is of the “right-leaning” persuasion and is a member of the 99 percent. I offer the following opinions: 1) Contrary to current doctrinal belief, there is not an enemy under every rock. 2) We created most of our real or perceived enemies through bad foreign policy decisions and acting like the bully on the block. America is still the strongest and safest country in the world, and we can afford to be diplomatic and regain the respect we once had in the world. 3) I admire Jones’ life of sacrifice, but the quality of his life and many others, including military veterans, would have been better-met by governments more interested in serving the people instead of corporations.
Much of the money spent on redundant military bases throughout the world, including Germany and Japan, could have been used to enrich Jones’ life and the lives of other U.S. citizens. Freedom and rights require individual civic responsibilities. Libertarian views to the contrary, humans are social animals, and they can’t live in harmony without understanding what responsibilities are required from each of us. Footnote: I own guns, and I served in the military when called to duty.
Glenn E. Rodey
Hesperus
