Congress constantly complains about the deficit. The fact is that it created the problem, and refuses to address the situation. The right wing claims that the solution is to remove social programs which aid low-income and impoverished Americans. However, because America has never ‘met a war it didn’t love,’ it refuses to forbid the Pentagon from wasting 50 percent of its yearly allotted funding.
When former President Bill Clinton left office on January 20, 2001, our nation’s economy experienced a surplus. Eight years later our nation entered the ‘great recession.’ The George W. Bush Administrations instituted failed economic policies which aided the wealthy and harmed the majority. It also placed our nation into two unwinnable wars which cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars.
Congress passed a defense bill Tuesday, which will cost the American people $602 billion; a budget five-times higher than any other nation in the world. Although the Pentagon continues to waste more than one-half of its yearly budget, Congress hands them money with virtually no oversight. The military has warehouses filled with tanks and ammunition. The F-15 has experienced cost overruns in the billions, and may never fulfill its expectations.
President Obama has vowed to veto the bill, not related to the large figure, but because of two provisions he opposes. An addendum to the funding would prohibit the closing of Guantanamo Bay. Another would allow the military brass to use funds allocated for Iraq and Afghanistan and avoid spending cuts.
Bush invaded Iraq in 2003. “Gitmo” has outlived its purpose. Those imprisoned there must face legal action or be released; this is the American way. Our military leaders must learn to operate in the same manner as most of the American people; spend money wisely and cease its extravagance.
In one of the Republican “debates,” former candidate Marco Rubio advocated a one-trillion-dollar budget for the military, while approving harmful changes to social security, Medicare, and food stamp programs. I might make a note here; America has 536 billionaires; next is China with 213.
Congress will never solve the deficit problem. Extremists in the Republican Party refuse to seek a bipartisan solution. They are similar to your dreaded uncle who attends every family function and knows everything and refuses to listen to anyone else’s opinion. Destroying programs which have helped the majority of the American people for 60 years is not the solution. The one-percent must pay their fair share of taxes; they can no longer be allowed to receive bloated profits while the working class suffers, and the middle class disappears.
You are likely to hear complaints from Congress when and if the President vetoes the final combined bill from the House and Senate. Refuse to allow them to use emotional baggage and fear tactics to mask the truth. America needs a strong military, but also an intelligent military. A “good idea” becomes a bad idea when it fails and costs the American people billions of dollars.
Congress refuses to accept blame for its mistakes; and there are many. It fails to perform the function for which it was elected, and that includes a conscientious effort to pass legislation and hold hearings for nominees to the Supreme Court and other necessary government agencies.
Congress is the problem, not the solution.
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 