Endless war is bleeding us, and it’s also bleeding our economy. A War Economy not only brings death and destruction, it is also terribly wasteful. Lives are wasted, and so are our tax dollars. Military contractors rake in massive profits, while our economy withers on the vine.
Spending as much each year on the military as the rest of the world combined is extremely foolhardy. We can’t afford to squander hundreds of billions of borrowed money, year after year. There is no benefit in terms of national security, and we end up with nothing to show for it except a mountain of debt.
Productive investment in a Peace Economy not only provides the basis for a prosperous future, it also provides more badly needed jobs today. A 2007 study by University of Massachusetts economist Prof. Robert Pollin revealed:
The number of jobs provided by spending $1 billion:
Mass Transit: 19,759
Education: 17,687
Healthcare: 12,833
Construction/Weatherization: 12, 804
Military: 8,555
With official unemployment near 10 percent and the actual rate much higher, let’s get smart and spend our money wisely. Join Peaceworks in sending a message to Pres. Barack Obama and Congress: We need jobs. We need to invest in our communities. We need to end the wars abroad. We need to move forward now to create real security and a prosperous future for ourselves and our children.
To contact the White House call 202-456-1111 or click here for their web form.
To contact Congress call 866-220-0044 or 202-224-3121 or go click here for the House or here for the Senate.
To get active in working locally for a Peace Economy, contact Mid-Missouri Peaceworks at 573-875-0539 or e-mail us.
