Heed Eisenhower and King: Slash the Military Budget

[unhappycamper]

Heed Eisenhower and King: Slash the Military Budget
Elliott Negin
Media Director, Union of Concerned Scientists
Posted: January 13, 2011 05:35 PM

This weekend Americans will observe the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. and mark the 50th anniversary of President Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell address, perhaps the most significant presidential valedictory in modern times.

What do these two giants of American history have in common?

Both rang the alarm about an unchecked military establishment devouring a disproportionate amount of the federal budget at the expense of pressing domestic needs.

Given the current defense budget -- at $725 billion -- is at its highest level since World War II in inflation-adjusted dollars and double what it was in 1998, their warnings remain all too germane today.

Eisenhower's farewell speech, delivered on January 17, 1961, was most notable for his warning about the "military-industrial complex": the "conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry."

[maryf]

1. 54 to 58% (depending on programs included) of the federal budget

goes to the military...K&R

[mopinko]

2. link to video of the speech

i haven't had a chance to watch the whole video, but my most excellent npr local station, wbez chicago, had susan eisenhower on to talk about this speech. you can see the video at the link, and also download the podcast of the show. she also talk a little about 'a chance for peace' the speech that gave us the phrase 'cross of iron'.

worldview is THE best international news show on the air anywhere.
http://www.wbez.org/worldview