On this Tax Day, many Americans are likely taking a moment to consider the costs associated with funding the public services that, among other things, keep our air and water clean, create educational opportunities for our children, and provide financial security to our most vulnerable fellow citizens. Although no one likes to pay taxes, most Americans understand that our country is stronger because we collectively fund our national priorities and promote the common good.
Unfortunately, Americans are all too aware that they are bearing another, highly unpopular, financial burden: the direct and indirect costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
This year, the government will spend $159.3 billion in direct spending on these wars. In the decade since these conflicts began, we've spent approximately $1 trillion. And, if and when these wars finally end, the bills will continue to roll in, as our veterans return home with grievous mental and physical injuries. The economist Joseph Stiglitz has estimated that these legacy costs could push the final tally for our occupations to more than $3 trillion.
So what are Americans getting for their $107 billion taxpayer investment in Afghanistan this year? Troop casualties are up, civilian deaths are at an all-time high, and, according to our own CIA Director, there are fewer than 100 Al-Qaeda remaining in the country.
The American people are willing to pay their fair share and engage in shared sacrifice for the good of the country. It's all a part of being a responsible, patriotic citizen. However, as elected officials, we should not be asking our constituents to sacrifice unnecessarily. Right now, we just can't afford it. For example, according to the Rethink Afghanistan campaign, a household bringing in the median income in my district in Detroit, Michigan -- a mere $32,365 -- will pay $1,250 in taxes to support the War in Afghanistan and other military spending.
We shouldn't be asking Americans to spend more than $1,000 a year on a counterproductive and wasteful war when they're struggling to get by. Wouldn't it be better to put that money into popular programs that help working families? With the money spent on the wars this year, we could put 14.1 million children into the Head Start program or put 1.6 million additional cops on the beat or give 19.3 million low-income students a $5,000 Pell Grant scholarship. The math is clear. For the sake of working people across this country, for the health of our troops, for a more responsive democracy, and a stronger and smarter national security posture, we need to start bringing our troops home now.
Rep. Jackie Speier: 10 Reasons to Bring Our Troops Home From Afghanistan on 10th Anniversary of War
Rabbi Arthur Waskow: Petition the President: End Afghan War Now!
You just want the money for more Socialist/Marxist vote buying schemes.
It only took NINETEEN--19--XVIIII al Queda to kill more than 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11, 2001.
But, you'll support that bridge in Detroit, won't you?
At least you came clean in Michael Moore's hatchet piece "FatForHeight" 9/11 when you admitted you don't read bills. You casually admitted you didn't read the Patriot Act and, of course you didn't read the Health Care Act either.
The last time the Taliban were in power, they hosted al Qaeda, and we got 9/11 as a result. Anyone proposing to quickly bring all the troops home needs to address this threat. The Congressman does not.
We can, and will, start to withdraw troops this year. What we must NOT do, is withdraw precipitously or more quickly than the Afghans can prevent a return of the Taliban on their own.
-Card-Carrying American
http://cardcarryingamerican.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Card-Carrying-American/149565408390518
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=196908620351575
http://grijalva.house.gov/uploads/The%20CPC%2......0FY2012%20Budget.pdf
http://grijalva.house.gov/uploads/The%20People%27s%20Budget%20-%20A%20Technical%20Analysis.pdf
Presupuesto del Pueblo (Español)
http://grijalva.house.gov/uploads/Presupuesto%20del%20Pueblo.pdf
"Cutting" will never be the answer. Increasing revenue, especially when the revenue is already owed and unpaid, HAS to happen. The longer Congress waits to make this happen, the angrier the public is becoming. Go to any McDonald's, WalMart, Home Depot, any supermarket in the country (places members of Congress don't go often enough), and you'll hear the anger, and it's growing and growing and growing.
Working Americans, and those who can't find work, are tired of corporations and the wealthy feeding off us, using our money for their exorbitant bonuses, high-priced homes, cars, yachts, etc.
As soon as the money flow stops, the force disappears, the Taliban are back in business. So why are we even bothering to train them, when Afghanistan will never be able to pay for their own 'U.S. imposed' security? (unless of course, they can move that opium). How many years are we going to pay for this security force? How many years are we going to allow the corrupt U.S. puppet regime in Afghanistan to channel billions into their own personal bank accounts?
We could pull the plug tomorrow, bring all the troops home and Afghanistan will be allowed to 'return to normal' that much quicker. Think of the savings.