Meals on wheels canceled, but plenty of money for tanks the Army doesn't want.

[Savannahmann]

I'm not sure how many remember that Senator Trent Lott made headlines on several occasions pushing ships that the Navy said they didn't want, need, or know how to use. Senator Lott, knowing more about the Navy than the Sailors, told them he knew they needed the ships that could be built at his good friend's shipyard. Besides, it was jobs for people in his state, and who could be against jobs.

Those days are thankfully over. Or are they?

The story is this. Lima Ohio has the only manufacturing line that makes the M-1 Abrams Tank. The Army says they have enough tanks, more than enough tanks, and don't want anymore. The proposed upgrades are not needed, nor wanted. The Army says they would rather have the nearly $500 Million for other things. But in another demonstration of expertise in which those who have done it their whole lives have no idea what they need, the Lawmakers say that we must have more tanks, and tanks with the upgrades.

The same arguments that were used to keep building aircraft carriers, and submarines, that if we stop building them, we'll forget how, is used for the Tank line. The idea is that if we don't build tanks this year, we will be unable to build them ever again is asinine. At some point, you have to look over the parking lots full of shiny new tanks and go, OK, enough. The Army has reached that point, but Congress hasn't.

So lets play a little game. How many things can you think of that could be paid for with half a billion dollars besides the Military Industrial Complex? Meals on Wheels is an obvious place to start, because you could feed a lot of Seniors with half a billion dollars. Any suggestions on how you would spend the money instead of wasting it on a tank the Army doesn't want?

[elleng]

1. All politics is 'local.'

[grilled onions]

2. Perhaps The Word Is Loco

They are always telling the tax payers to live within our means and never buy something that is not needed. We are always telling our kids not to spend all their allowance simply because they have not spent it all yet..and then you read what "they" are wanting to do--spending money like a drunken sailor at a time when so many are getting budgets cut.

[elleng]

3. Yes, LOCO.

[dkf]

4. That shows the strength of Ohio pols...and it's a bipartisan thing.

Congress pushes for weapons Pentagon didn’t want

The Dayton Daily News analyzed proposed defense budgets for 2013 and identified five programs that Ohio’s congressional delegation is fighting for although Pentagon officials have called them unnecessary and unaffordable.


In February, the Pentagon released a budget that began the process to cut at least $487 billion in defense spending over the next 10 years. This included terminating the Global Hawk, which the military estimated would save $2.5 billion over five years; the C-27J, at a savings of $400 million; M1 Abrams updates, saving hundreds of millions of dollars; and cutting roughly 5,000 positions from the Air National Guard and reducing that agency’s budget about $300 million.

All of these cuts are tied to Ohio jobs. About 100 people at Wright-Patt are assigned to the Global Hawk’s program management. The C-27Js are based largely at the Mansfield Air National Guard Base, and the National Guard cuts threaten bases in Springfield and Columbus. The M1 Abrams is upgraded in Lima, and supports roughly 800 jobs there.

Against the Defense Department’s wishes, Congress put all the programs back in the budget.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/news/congress-pushes-for-weapons-pentagon-didnt-want/nRC7w/

[Savannahmann]

8. 800 jobs building tanks.

Tens of thousands of seniors eating a hot meal, perhaps the only one they'll get all day. The 800 are skilled workers, chances are they can get a job, close to Ohio is the plant in Indiana where they built my Toyota mini-van. Kentucky has the plant where they build the Corvette. Just south of Lima is another GM plant, and a Ford Plant is right nearby too. I know, I delivered to both places.

The point is that skilled labor has a much better chance of finding a job, especially unionized skilled labor, the Union will help them out. Tens of thousands of seniors are looking at going hungry, because we allow Politicians to curry political favor.

[Granny M]

5. Involuntary committal

for all congress people advocating for and voting for crap like this. That would be a better use of the money and would provide jobs in the lunatic asylum business.

[Laelth]

6. Not interested in the proposed game, however ...

If we could get a vote on a crucial piece of legislation in exchange for appeasing one capitalist's pocket-Senator, I might go along with this colossal waste. These days, however, we don't even demand a vote in exchange for the pork we agree to dole out. That, in my opinion, is the bigger waste.

I am fine with distributing a little pork in exchange for legislation that improves the lives of the people, but without some legislative victory, I can think of many ways to better spend this money.

-Laelth

[ananda]

7. Kick

..

[bike man]

9. There's even money ($200 million) for refugee aid, but none to aid the

frail, infirm, and elderly here http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022556024