Cut military aid to other countries
Our new Congress is in now place and promises abound. They promise spending cuts. They haven't made it very clear where these cuts will be made. They have cut funding to lawmakers' offices. That is a step in the right direction. They talk about repealing the new health care plan. That's the several-thousand-page health care plan affectionately known as Obamacare.
Beyond that I haven't heard many specifics. Well, I have a few suggestions. Stop giving military aid to foreign countries. President Obama has promised $2 billion in military aid to Pakistan for 2011. This comes on the heels of a $7.5 billion civilian aid package.
This is nothing new, of course. Pakistan received $11 billion in military aid from the U.S. from 2001 to 2008. All this to a country that offers refuge to terrorists. They take our money but won't allow us to cross their border and root out the terrorist who hide in the mountains. Other countries receiving military aid from the American taxpayer include Iraq, Israel, Egypt, Afghanistan, Colombia, Jordan and Liberia.
Can you imagine what could be done here at home with all that money? Just think of the infrastructure and the schools that could be built. It certainly could make a sizable dent in the deficit.
Our economy is a disaster. Unemployment is at the highest level in most of our lifetimes. We are heavily in debt to China while we arm countries around the world, many of whom hate one another. Change in Washington? I'll believe it when I see it.
Ron Flowers
Elk Grove Village