There was a nice article on CNN today about the production of the M1A2 Abrams tank. Apparantly, the Army is satisfied with their current tank inventory and is ready to slow or stop production to cut expenses. I assume the military knows how to count tanks, and if they don't need any more right now we shouldn't build them. It seems like a pretty simple decison - especially when we are so broke that the GOP believes we can no longer afford Medicare or Medicaid.
Of course, the problem is that it is in the Speaker's home state of Ohio - so all of a sudden he's less worried about the deficit than he used to be. Actually, it's not "all of a sudden" - he took the same position on the F-35 engine production in Ohio.
Mr. Speaker - how about some consistency, and some honesty? You are perfectly willing to put 800,000 public employees out of a job in the name of budget disciple - "so be it", I think you said. Why is it any different if the jobs happen to be in Ohio?
I hate to see any more job losses - either public employee jobs, or jobs building unnecessary equipment for the military (not much different than any other public job, actually). You need to make a choice - jobs or the deficit. If the deficit matters more than jobs, then don't waste my tax dollars to build jet engines and tanks that the military doesn't need and doesn't want. If jobs matter more, then you need to get moving on some real jobs programs. Not budget cuts. Not killing Medicare and Medicaid. Not abortion rights. Not PPACA repeal (especially without a "replace" proposal). Jobs. More jobs. Good middle class jobs.
In fact, don't waste my tax dollars on unnecessary military hardware in any case - there are btter investments to make with that money. Schools. Teachers. Green energy. Roads. High speed rail. Basic R&D. Things that will strengthen the country and grow the economy for the future.
By the way, "national security" is more than weapons. A country's national security depends on the health and welfare of the citizens and a strong middle class with good jobs more than it does on the military strength of the Army - unless, of course, your name is Gaddafi.
Hypocrisy is the worst thing you can do to abuse the power entrusted to you by the voters. If you stand for nothing more than your own self interest, how can we trust you with anything?