Gore Vidal on the US election

[Max Sawicky]

If he means outlays for all defense, as opposed
to procurement, and if he means as a share of
discretionary, rather than of "the budget" (his
words), then he's in the right ballpark.
But for a guy who is so sharp w/words, his
fuzziness is fair game.

mbs

I think Vidal means the discretionary budget.

Marta

Max Sawicky wrote:


> [From today's Salon.  Full text at
> http://www.salon.com/politics/feature/2000/09/20/vidal/print.html]
>
> "The great scandal today is we're still a militarized economy, 51 percent
of
> the budget goes for the Pentagon for procurement . . .
> >>>>>>>>>>
>
> Actually it's less than three percent, but
> let's not quibble.  If he means all defense
> spending, it's 16 percent.  I like Gore Vidal,
> even if he can't count.
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>
> ", and there is no enemy; and
> they're asking for another $60 billion over the next decade. . . . "
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
> I would be overjoyed to learn that $60 billion was
> the most DoD got over its present budget over the
> next ten years.
>
> By contrast, the projected surplus over the same
> period WILL BE OVER FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS!!!!!!!!!!
>
> mbs

--
Marta Russell
author, Los Angeles, CA
http://disweb.org/
Beyond Ramps: Disability at the End of the Social Contract
http://www.commoncouragepress.com/russell_ramps.html