Cuts In Defense Spending: It’s About Time

In spite of fears that it might put a crimp in the welfare system for Lockheed and Boeing, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is proposing cuts in defense spending that has gone up 72% since 2000.

Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-22 fighter jet (pictured) and Boeing Co.’s Future Combat Systems are among programs at risk as the administration begins to close what Gates calls the “spigot of defense spending,” which may reach $654.1 billion in the budget year ending in September.

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Lockheed and Boeing have campaigned to save major programs by tying them to jobs. Curtailing F-22 production beyond the 183 on order would jeopardize 95,000 workers in 1,000 companies across 44 states, Lockheed says. The aircraft is the most expensive fighter jet at $354 million each in inflation-adjusted dollars that amortize 20 years of research and development.

Congress will be upset with this because many legislators claim the need for weapons systems made in their districts so they can bring home the bacon.  But is weapons-making supposed to be a jobs program?  Conservatives tend to get upset when their tax dollars go to needy families.  Maybe we need to re-evaluate what we give to needy defense contractors.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.