dlo@drutx.UUCP (OlsonDL) (11/20/85)
[] In article: <824@whuxl.UUCP> orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER) writes: >Dave Olson seems to feel that all we have to do to solve >problems of National Security (and the survival of this >planet and the human race) is throw more and more money >into nuclear weapons and the military. He states: >> My objection is also with people who claim that cutting defense will >> fix the deficit. If defense was cut back to 1980 levels, it would only >> cut the deficit by 40%. Even Jimmy Carter realized that that level of >> defense was *too low*. The defense he wanted was even heigher than what >> Reagan wanted. >> David Olson I was under the impression that people with a little more intellect than that of an over priced carrot would know what I was saying. I said that the defense was a small part of the federal budget, and the minor part of the deficit, and Tim goes into a tirade about nukes! > 2)former Secretary of Defense McNamara has stated that only *300* > nuclear weapons would be enough to totally devastate either country ...... > 4)In the last five years we have spent over a trillion (yes, *trillion*!) > dollars on preparing for War. Hundreds of billions of that money > has been for development of still more nuclear weapons. > What has that trillion dollars bought us? Today we have thousands > more Soviet nuclear weapons aimed at our throats. The fact > that we may now be able to blow up the Soviets 20 times over instead > of 10 does not make me feel one whit safer - they can now blow us > up 15 times over instead of 10 In 1980, defense took up about 5% of the nation's GNP. In 1984, it rose to about 6.5% of GNP. When McNamara was Secretary of Defense during the Kennedy Administration, it was about 9% of GNP. And that was BEFORE the US involvement in Viet Nam became hot and heavy. Tim, I hate nuclear weapons too. But, do you honestly believe that with a shoddy defense (with or without them) you would be safe? Wake up and smell the coffee! > tim sevener My opinions are my own, and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer. David Olson ..!ihnp4!drutx!dlo