What is "national security"? In a series of recent polls titled "Americans Talk Security," the greatest threat to national security was drug trafficking, not the Russians. In other words, "national security" was no longer synonymous with the military. Instead, to the respondents "security" meant what any human being other than George Bush knows it means: freedom from fear, a reasonable expectation of justice, a decent opportunity for food, shelter, and clothing, and a sense of purpose.
Dr. Wes Wallace, national chairman of the Physicians for Social Responsibility, gave a talk in Concord to about 30 people on August 17. In his remarks he cited some interesting comparisons, one of which will illustrate his point: 3 days of the military budget is equal to the total amount spent on the health, education, and welfare of children for one year. The questions he raised are fair ones: can we afford billions for Star Wars and not immunize children? are we more secure if we spend $50 billion on tritium production and poison people in the process? In short, what will there be to defend once the military budget has soaked up funds that could have made our children healthy, our air cleaner, our soils less toxic?
In 1988 New Hampshire residents funneled $1.35 billion into the Pentagon, a third more than all the state property taxes combined. What could that money have bought here at home? In the same year 15,000 homeless in New Hampshire were served by public agencies; uncounted others were aided by private agencies and churches. Not to mention the pressing number of people who work but are paying 50% and more of their incomes in housing; they are one paycheck, one major emergency, away from joining those 15,000. 85,000 people (almost the population of Manchester) are hungry for some time each month, and soup kitchens are becoming permanent features in the urban landscape. And on and on.
What can be done? to use Lenin's phrase. One option for New Hampshire residents is work on an upcoming event sponsored by New Hampshire Action for Peace & Lasting Security. Between now and October 21, P/LS will gather 23,500 cans of food to create a "food arsenal" to match the 23,500 warheads in the "military arsenal." The food will be displayed at the State House on October 21 and booths will be set up to educate people about the need to work for a new and healthier definition of "national security." An undertaking like this requires an enormous amount of effort and P/LS could use all the help it can get. They can be reached either at P.O. Box 771 in Concord or their offices at 80 N. Main Street. Their phone number is 228-0559. There really is a choice.
Jesse Murabito
Neptune