As we Americans sit down to figure out how much tax we’re paying Uncle Sam this year, it’s appropriate that we take a look at how that money is being spent. The shocking fact is that 52 cents of every tax dollar is spent on wars—past, present and future. According to Monitor Radio, whereas in 1980 we spent $7 on the military for every $1 on housing, the ratio is now 44 to 1. Under Reagan, there were relentless cuts in housing, health, education and environmental protection, while the military budget has become increasingly bloated.

Having, like the Russians, reached the stage where our nuclear arsenal could destroy the world many times over, we have nevertheless continued to build nuclear weapons at the rate of three per day. Near Savannah, Georgia, we are currently launching the most dreadful machine of death ever known to humankind—the Trident submarine. Equipped with D-5 multiple warheads, each capable of destroying many Russian cities within minutes of launch, this is truly a first-strike weapon. As such, it will surely stimulate the Soviet arms buildup despite Gorbachev’s efforts toward arms control and peace. Trident submarines will cost the American taxpayer many billions of dollars by the time the projected fleet is completed in the coming years—by which time we are told it will be obsolete! The price tag for one outdated B-1 bomber is $500 million—and we lost two in training accidents recently! The more expensive Stealth bomber is also experiencing serious problems and growing questions about its practicality.

This diversion of funds to the military has resulted in immense suffering at home. The escalating army of homeless in our cities and towns is witness to the breakdown of our system. While housing costs have skyrocketed and minimum wages have remained static since 1980, government assistance to housing programs has dried up. We have on our streets, not only the drug and alcohol addicts and the mentally ill, but also an increasing number of families. Children are among the fastest growing number of victims of the housing shortage in this country.

Community programs for the homeless, such as the local food pantry and PADS shelter for temporary overnight housing are vital to the survival of the homeless. But raising the minimum wage and building more low cost housing are key ingredients to any real solution of the problem.

Similarly, praying for peace and learning to live peacefully in our own community are only part of the answer to world peace. Wars will continue as long as we turn our backs on what our government does with the money it extracts from us each year. When it spends that money on expanding military budgets and supporting oppressive governments in other countries or to fund counter-revolutionaries such as the contras or UNITA, we need to pay attention and let our legislators and president know that we want this nonsense stopped.

A flood of letters at tax time could be a start in holding our leaders responsible.

Cecile and Axel Meyer