Introduction

Large US budget deficits are not sustainable in the long run – witness the Greek deficit crisis unfolding in Europe and spreading to Spain and Portugal.  Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and the UK are now taking serious measures to cut their budgets.  The lesson to be learned is that eventually the US must face up to the difficult task of cutting its federal budget. 

The largest portion of the US budget – the defense budget –  has always been considered untouchable, a “sacred cow”.  Cynthia Tucker, who is the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's political columnist, wrote a blog entitled “Where are the deficit hawks who want to trim defense spending,” where she challenges this  “sacred cow” –  arguing that if fiscal conservatives are serious about cutting the deficit, they must also consider cutting the defense budget.

Highlights from her blog are below, followed by discussion questions….. Read more of Tucker’s blog – by clicking on the above blog title.

Defense Spending Is 23% Of Federal Budget – A Deficit Reduction Target?

“In fiscal year 2009, according to the Office of Management and Budget, defense spending accounted for 23 percent of the federal budget, more than Medicare/Medicaid (19 percent), more than Social Security (20 percent) and more than the hated bank bail-out (four percent.) Any serious effort to address the deficit, then, will have to include the Pentagon.”

Does Military-Industrial Complex Thwart Defense Budget Cutters?

“Nearly fifty years after Dwight Eisenhower famously warned Americans about the military-industrial complex, it still manages to hold its few critics at bay, to thwart the designs of budget-cutters and to exert a peculiar pull on the American popular imagination.”

Is Defense Budget Geared To Fight  Yesterday’s “Cold War” Protagonists?

“Americans have bought into the false idea that the military needs super-sophisticated, hyper-expensive technology to keep us safe from the enemy — even if the enemy is using civilian airliners and crudely-made car bombs. The war against al-Qaeda and its ally, the Taliban, is currently being waged largely with ground troops and Predator drones, which are manufactured at a tiny fraction of the cost of stealth fighter jets.”

Why Is US Defense Spending Equal To Rest Of The World Combined?

“[T]he U.S. spends nearly as much on defense as the rest of the world combined. ….. The spending continues unabated partly because defense contractors have done a masterful job of turning weapons-production into a massive jobs program spread across several Congressional districts.”

Why Is Defense Budget More Than Obama Requested?

“The Department of Defense budget for fiscal year 2010, passed last October, came to a whopping $680 billion, $16 billion more than Obama requested.”

Why Did House Bill Include A Jet Fighter The Pentagon Doesn’t Want?

“[T]he House passed a defense spending bill that includes $485 million to develop a jet fighter engine that the Pentagon doesn’t even want.” Is Bloated Defense Budget Simply A  Sophisticated “WPA”? “In a deep recession, with unemployment still hovering near ten percent, a federally-sponsored, taxpayer-funded jobs program isn’t a bad idea. But taxpayers reject the notion of a modern Works Progress Administration (WPA)— unless it’s run by Boeing or Lockheed Martin.”

Deficit Hawks Should Also Target Defense Budget?

“If fiscal conservatives are serious about reining in spending, the Pentagon presents a fat juicy target. Paint a bull’s-eye on that defense budget.”  

***** Questions For Thought, Comment, And Small Group Discussion *****

(1) Do you agree that the US defense budget should be a target for fiscal conservatives and deficit hawks – why or why not? 

(2) Why do you think fiscal conservatives and deficit hawks have shied away from cutting the defense budget?

(3) Do you think the lobbyist and vested interests, i.e., the military-industrial complex will continue to be successful in thwarting cuts to the defense budget – why or why not?  Give examples or counter examples.

(4) Do you think the defense budget is geared to fighting the “wrong war” – yesterday’s “cold war” protagonists – rather than terrorists, insurgents, regional “hot” spots, etc. – why or why not?

(5) Why should the US defense spending be so large as to be nearly equal to the rest of the world combined? Pragmatically, can we continue this fiscal burden – why or why not?

(6) Do you think the US can continue to be the main “policeman” for  the world – why or why not?  If not, what should be the new paradigm for the US?

(7) Why do you think the 2010 defense budget is larger than President Obama requested – with money to develop an advanced fighter jet the Pentagon does not want?

(8) Do you think the defense budget is essentially a WPA program, i.e., a tax payer funded jobs program – why or why not?  If so, do you think there are infrastructure projects which are better targets for tax payer funded jobs programs – give examples?