An Open Letter to Congress

Dear Congress,

Hey there! My name is Sabrina Chin and I attend a charter school called Summit Shasta in the Bay Area. Currently in my English class we have been completing a project about controversial issues, wars have caused. Throughout this project, it has come to my attention that we’ve been giving the military too large of a budget. I understand that the military needs a lot of money to run, however if everyone else is forced to deal with decisions that could easily affect their budget, so should they. It’s not fair to everyone else who could use that money to make more life changing decisions. I wanted to write to you specifically, because I know you can make big decisions that can help change our lovely country. I know that if I can change your mind I can help change a lot of lives. Based on my research I can argue that the military is given too much money to play around with for they do not even use all that money usefully all the time. I know there are expensive and really cool things laying around, however in the end it just cost too much to run. I’m also not asking you to completely cut their budget, because I understand the consequences of that action, instead I’m asking you to gradually cut their budget and re-locate it to someone that really needs that money, for example teacher salaries, low-income families, or even students unable to afford college. Why did I choose to mention them? Well, not everyone is as privileged and survival is crucial, this means they always count on you to protect them and help them when they are struggling to support themselves. These people try a lot to live and survive in this beautiful and amazing country, yet you can’t seem to give them all your attention. Therefore, we should gradually re-locate some of the money in the military budget to others who are struggling to keep their heads above water. This could help change lives or even the country.

To start, the military is already given too much money that they don’t use as wisely as they should. They’re basically drowning in all the cash you are providing them with. To give some context on this issue, the military is given about approximately $693,058,000,000 every year, while the education system is barely given that half amount. How can you care so much about one thing when the other thing is just as important? When you hand someone kind money, you trust that it would be used intelligently. However, according to Phillip Francis, in his work titled, “The Disturbing Ways We Waste Money Our Military Budget” it states, “Other projects include the F-35 program, the EA-18G Growler program, and F/A-18 Super Hornets. These weapons systems are extremely cool and groundbreaking, but in the end, they are just too expensive and rarely work properly.” In other words, the military makes cool and nice equipment, but in the end it will barely work and running these objects will cost thousands, and possibly millions. So they have plenty of money that they can spend left and right, while the rest of us are struggling to figure out how we can afford all our necessities? Does that seem fair to you? The information I’m telling you is significant because there are other helpful equipment that are less expensive and work more efficiently. Instead of wasting our money on things that take a lot of work and money, we should use that money to give to things like the education system because they need it and will put that money to better use. Additionally, according to Benjamin H. Friedman, a writer, in his work titled “A Plan to Cut Military Spending” he states, “National defense spending, referred to here as the military budget, is more than 30 percent higher in real terms than in 2000.2 U.S. military spending is more than double what Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea collectively spend on their militaries. And that amount excludes $255 billion in security-related and foreign affairs spending in the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Veterans Affairs.4” This information is significant because it shows that the amount of money we give to the military is unnecessary, for countries like Russia and China are perfectly fine, and they spend less then double the amount we spend. Does it not bother you that we could be saving so much money or even saving lives? Overall, this data shows that the money we provide the military with is unnecessarily too large, and could be put in better use if it were in the hands of other people.

Furthermore, the money I’m asking you to cut, does not all have to be immediately taken away, instead it should be gradually re-located to other places/people that need the money more. These people/places are struggling everyday and while you encourage many to apply and go to college, you don’t see that not everyone has that kind of money, and the amount you are willing to invest into the military could go to helping your citizens. To give some context on this issue, I basically want the money to be safely transferred to other people without affecting the military. According to Henry Blodget, a writer, in his work titled “Yes, Of Course We Should Cut Military Spending!” he states, “Gradually shifting a couple hundred billion dollars a year out of military spending and re-allocating it to domestic infrastructure spending would not harm the economy — because we would still be spending this money.” This means that instead of harming the military and their ways, we should slowly take a couple billion out of their budget and re-locate it somewhere else, because we would still be spending the money, just not in the same way. This information is significant because it shows that we have a solution to the problem, and no one would be harmed. Instead many would be happy because they have money they could use to help them and their loved ones. Additionally, according to Henry Blodget once again, in the same article he states, ”And we should cut military spending by re-allocating it, so the overall level of government spending on things like equipment and infrastructure doesn’t drop.” This information is significant because it gives you reassurance that this plan is well thought out and won’t harm anything or anyone drastically. Overall, this data shows that there are more beneficial ways to spend the government’s money then just experimenting with expensive and confusing equipment. It proves to us that there is a solution to the problem I’m stating and it’s well thought out.

Some might argue that it takes a lot of money to build and run an aircraft and the military is our only source of defense when it comes to war or an attack. Which is true, however, it is also true that there are other ways to retrieve that money, for example the military already waste a lot of money on equipment they don’t use and there’s a bunch of expensive equipment that hasn’t even been touched. I ask you this: is this really okay with you, is it really necessary, is it the best option? The military can use that money on equipment that is useful and helpful during war. Why waste it when you know very well, that there are other ways to put the money to better use? On top of that, money isn’t the solution to our problem. The solution is a good strategy. We cover up our problems with money instead of actually solving the problem. According to my previous resources and Thomas E. Ricks, a soldier and U.S. citizen, in his work titled, “America’s military doesn’t need more money — what it needs is an engaged public to demand a genuine strategy” he states, “The solution to our strategic malaise is not funding, equipment or technology. We need a strategy that is sustainable and realistic — one that evaluates threats and defense needs (engagements, support to allies, etc.) against a harsh assessment of resources available. It is likely that American politics and political turnover prevent formulation of a long-standing grand strategy.” What the author means here is that money isn’t the issue, it’s a good strategy. Our strategies need to be realistic and easy to attain, without using a huge budget yet still work flawlessly. Therefore, there’s no reason a couple of billion would affect the military, for all they do with the money is cover up their problems with it. If everyone else is forced to work on a budget, so should the military. What makes them an exception?

As a solution, I implore you to gradually re-locate some money to other places/people that need and will put the money to good use. This will make a difference because it won’t drastically hurt anyone and the money is still being spent, just in a different, more efficient way. While you make a decision, there are many people suffering every year because they aren’t as privileged to use money left and right. They look upon you for help and I’m asking you to do what you promise the country, help and safety. The military would have an entire year to adjust to the change and more people will be happy they’re provided with more money that could really help change their lives. Please open your eyes and see that the military isn’t everything, your citizens are.

Sincerely, Sabrina Chin