As a retired antiwar activist, I have long called for big cuts in the war budget — and I long ago got used to being ignored, while war spending kept growing.
But today I looked up from the email inbox and glimpsed one of those “I-Never-Thought-I’d see this” sights —
Namely that in this anti-arms race I had suddenly fallen behind — wait for it — behind the Secretary of Defense, Trump’s own Crusader-in-Chief, Pete Hegseth.
Hegseth grabbed the lead by ordering military planners to send him budgets that cut eight percent of current spending per year for five years, which equals 40 percent of the total.
Forty percent?? Can he do it?
I don’t know, but he’s for sure better-positioned to take a real whack at war spending than I (or my elderly peacenik era comrades) ever have been.
Further, most of this spending has had near-total congressional support, because Hegseth’s predecessors have been careful to spread bases (with big local payrolls & local tax bills) and lucrative defense contracts (more payrolls & local tax bills) in districts all across the map, from deep maroon to cobalt blue.
Even in tiny, ultra-azure Vermont, uber-progressive Senator Bernie Sanders keeps the spigots spouting more than $300 million per year into the thirsty maws of Raytheon, General Dynamics and several others. You betcha.
Few congressional Republicans have yet had much to say on Hegseth’s proposed cuts; but a few did wax enthusiastic.
Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) gets the nod for the most effusive (if less geometric) comment. He’s all in on Hegseth’s downsizing plans:
“I wouldn’t be against them taking it from a Pentagon to a Trigon. Cut a couple sides off of it,” he told reporters.
Hmm. That sure was an idea which hadn’t occurred to me; but, hey — why the heck not? I can close my eyes and see it now . . .
Hey, GLAD to meetcha, Senator Tuberville, and welcome to the movement.
I brought a vintage “War Is Not the Answer” bumpersticker for your car, and a brand-new button for your lapel that says “Follow Me to the Trump Trigon”; and — Oh, look: I see Bernie ahead, with his thumb out: let’s stop and we can all ride there together?
(And maybe sing “Kumbaya”?)
I’m glad to know you count yourself a retired peacenik I’m there too but it’s hard not to feel guilty. All I can do is contribute piddling little bits of money. I had planned to go to the Not My President’s rally last Monday but it was too damn cold and windy.
And am I misunderstanding you about Bernie? He’s giving big bucks to Raytheon etc ? Why?
Hello Anne,
Without meaning to exaggerate my level of involvement, it seems that over the past few weeks I’m doing more & more writing and communicating about militaristic concerns, which are my main ways of “being active.” So it seems I’m not currently as “retired” as I’d like to be.
As for Bernie Sanders, an iconic statesman to me,I have long been aware that, like most other successful politicians, he works to promote the allocation of federal contracts and grants with many purposes toward companies and other institutions in his home area. That work includes military contracts. War-related firms in Vermont are not large in their field, but they employ at least several hundred workers. And in a state as small as Vermont, several hundred worker/voters is a significant number. Bernie has won elections there for more than 30 years, which to me is a clear testimony that he is very attentive — and productive — in gaining federal support for Vermont projects & groups of many sorts, including military-related.
Thanks for explaining, Chuck. Bernie is serving his constituents and doing his job. I was excited to meet him once when he was a much younger congressman. He was among his antique cars in a barn in Ely Vt. He gets it.
Carry on!
Anne