There’s Plenty of Room for Cuts in Defense

President Reagan invented “voodoo economics,” whereby taxes for the wealthy could be reduced, military spending increased greatly and still have a surplus. Instead, he has doubled or tripled the national debt, the rich are richer, the poor are poorer, and foreign nationals are owning more and more of our country while the foreign trade deficit also zooms.

To complement voodoo economics, the Gramm-Rudman law has appeared, which is supposed to reduce the deficit. President Reagan, following his Reaganomics logic, has concluded that the way to reduce the deficit is to increase military spending! Viola!

How can any rational President look at the recent facts about military spending and conclude that more spending is the answer? Consider these events:

1--45 of the top 100 defense contractors are under criminal investigation for illegal charges to the government--Business Week (Aug. 12, 1985).

2--GTE Government Systems division pleads guilty to conspiracy (obtaining Pentagon budget documents for use in bidding)--Times (Sept. 11, 1985).

3--GE pleads guilty to defrauding the government on a Minuteman missile project--Times (May 14, 1985).

4--The House Armed Services Committee said millions of dollars in “absolutely inexcusable” claims were made by seven giant defense contractors, General Dynamics, Sperry, Newport News Shipbuilding, Bell Helicopters, McDonnell-Douglas, Rockwell and Boeing--Times (April 29, 1985).

5--The Pentagon could save 30% of its weapons procurement costs if defense contractors were more efficient, three Air Force management specialists charged--Times, (Oct. 11, 1984).

6--General Dynamics prices 12-cent hex wrench at $9,609--Times (Nov. 3, 1985).

7--The Navy paid $1,800 for two ashtrays, $404 for a socket wrench, $426 for a hammer, $6,000 for a coffee maker and $600 for a toilet seat--Times (May 30, 1985).

8--The Defense Department has wasted millions of dollars because of poor construction of military facilities built by private contractors who were allowed to inspect their own work , Pentagon auditors said--Times, (March 17, 1985).

9--The General Accounting Office says Pentagon overstated ammunition needs by 20%, and the Army’s request to improve ammo production was overstated by 35%--Times (Sept. 24, 1985).

And these are only a few such articles! Doesn’t it seem possible that there is too much hanky-panky in military spending, and that we really could cut back there about $50 billion to $60 billion and not hurt ourselves? Since we are supposed to be reducing the deficit, I think we could.

JACK F. MILLER

Tustin