The Government is always telling us that there is not enough money for schools, health care, affordable housing, job training, child care, and other human needs because of the "deficit." But let's look at where the "deficit" came from; between 1980 and 1988 the annual Pentagon budget increased $151 billion. During that same period the annual U.S."deficit" increased $140 billion.
[4 Calculations based on U.S. Gov't FY 1990, Office of Management and Budget (OMB)]
FEDERAL SPENDING FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN 1987 [5]
MILITARY *************************************** 71%
HEALTH ********* 9%
SPACE ******* 7%
ENERGY **** 4%
GENERAL SCIENCE *** 3%
AGRICULTURE ** 2%
NATURAL RESOURCES ** 2%
[5 OMB and the National Science Foundation]
The above chart shows how the U.S. Government spent our money for research and development (R&D), approximately $58 billion during 1987. The lion's share is for weapons, which means that we are able to produce the world's most technologically advanced arms. Meanwhile civilian industries are losing their ability to compete because of outdated and inefficient factories.
Our international competitors, on the other hand, commit the bulk of their R & D money to civilian industries. While U.S. industrial workers are losing their jobs, Japan, West Germany and other trade competitors are cornering the market in steel, automobiles, textiles, and electronics. Our choice is between investing more sophisticated weapons for the Pentagon, or investing in a future which creates better and more productive lives for people.
PROPOSITION ONE IS THE RIGHT CHOICE! Proposition One will mandate both Governments to invest in converting their
state-of-the-art weapons facilities to state-of-the-art industries that will benefit us all. Proposition One will also make it the law that the money formerly spent on weapons systems must now be spent on human needs.
NOTE: All statistics in this document are courtesy of JOBS WITH PEACE