Human Need for Proposition One

[written 1991]

PROPOSITION ONE calls for a peace dividend through nuclear disarmament and economic conversion. By the empowerment of bi-national voter initiatives, Proposition One will allow the people of both the United States and the Soviet Union to decide whether they want continued spending on nuclear weapons or increased spending on human and environmental needs. Proposition One would eliminate the threat of nuclear war and force both governments to address the domestic issues that have been casualties of the cold war.

For years, Americans have been told that we can have both guns and butter. We have been taught that military spending is good for the economy.

But the truth is that we cannot have it both ways. During the past six years over half of our income tax dollars have been spent on military programs. At the same time basic industries have declined, and domestic programs have been cut drastically.

THE REAL FACTS ARE:

* MILITARY SPENDING CREATES FEWER JOBS

According to the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, military spending creates 6,400 fewer jobs per $1 billion than would spending our tax dollars for bridge repair, education, or health programs. If 35 billion dollars were transferred from the Pentagon to domestic programs, an additional 262,000 full-time jobs would be created. For the cost of one F-15 jet fighter 1600 teachers could be hired at $25,000 a year. [1]

[1/ Source: Barry Bluestone and John Havens, "Reducing the Federal Deficit Fair and Square," prepared for the Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress, January 1986.]

* BUILD HOMES NOT BOMBS

Between 1977 and 1987, military spending increased 166%; increases in military spending included more nuclear weapons, star wars, and enormous military waste. [2] During that same period Federal Housing assistance was cut 62%. Housing assistance cuts included: an end to section 8 new construction, virtual elimination of public housing new construction, and an end to the rural home ownership program. [3]

[2 The Center for Defense Information.]
[3 National Low Income Housing Information Service.]

INVESTING IN OUR FUTURE:
BETTER WEAPONS OR A BETTER LIFE?

THERE IS MONEY FOR HUMAN NEEDS !

This year your family will pay hundreds and more likely thousands of dollars in income taxes.

For every dollar you pay in income taxes
50 cents will be spent on the military
1 cent will go for housing
3 cents will go for education
2 cents will go for food and nutrition [4]

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