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Politics : High Tolerance Plasticity -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: chowder who wrote (7929)	9/15/2001 1:25:55 PM
From: energyplay	Respond to of 23153

Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California represents the People's Republic of Berkeley. Former Ron Dellums staffer.

To: chowder who wrote (7929)	9/15/2001 4:46:22 PM
From: Raymond Duray	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 23153

Hi dabum, Re: I wonder what in the hell was going through (Barbara Lee's) mind? I believe she sees the military as taking too much of the national pie: house.gov <Snip>Our Defense Budget and Our Real National Security I am strongly in favor of protecting this country's national defense, but I am strongly opposed to the increased military expenditures of the Defense Appropriations bill. I voted against this measure, spoke out against it on the floor, and will continue to oppose such measures. I am particularly disturbed by the massive funding for the National Missile Defense program. This program will increase nuclear proliferation and decrease international stability, will cost billions, and will not work, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists and many other experts. Taken as a whole, the continued increases in defense spending are deeply disturbing. The FY01 Defense Appropriations bill runs $4 billion over the President's request, while at the same time Congress cuts funding for education, health, and social programs. Added to that, much of our defense spending goes to dubious, inefficient projects that serve the defense industry, not the national interest. At the same time, the Congressional Republican leadership proposes to cut taxes by millions and millions of dollars. Clearly, this is an issue of priorities. I oppose this defense bill not because I am unconcerned with national security, but precisely because I am concerned. A strong national military must reflect actual national security requirements. Times have changed; our defense budget has not. Bipartisan organizations such as Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities, who count among their members retired brigadier generals and rear admirals as well as corporate executives, have convincingly demonstrated that today's defense appropriations are out of line with security needs. Our defense budget can and should be more efficient and must be re-designed for the twenty-first century, post-Cold War world. To be secure in this world, we must educate our children, house the homeless, and feed the hungry. We must work to promote peace and attack fundamental threats to global security such as AIDS and other profound health threats. These are national security issues, and they must be addressed as such. <End Snip> In view of the national outrage, she's taken a recklessly courageous and politically naive position here. I can well imagine the reprisals coming for the 9th Congressional District in California. Not that they got to suck on the teat of DoD spending in the past, anyway. -Ray