The "Let's Slash the EPA but Increase Defense Spending Plan"

President Obama's proposed budget released this week suggested a 13 percent cut in the EPA fund. A bold move amongst many to try to cut all the parts of the budget that he can without offending anyone who might scuttle his reelection campaign.

The House Republicans answered with their own proposal, suggesting 13 percent was a mere starting point, and went further, opening a 29 percent slash in the EPA budget.

Meahwhile, Obama suggested a 22 billion dollar increase in the Defense budget. The House Republicans only asked for a mere 11 billion dollar increase in the Defense budget.

Of course, protecting Americans is a priority. Right? Certainly a higher priority than protecting the environment in which Americans live. Because really, what good is the environment if we aren't free to enjoy it. We need to focus on our real priorities. Priorities like maintaining and expanding huge bases in other countries. Priorities like developing jet fighters we almost certainly will not use. Priorities like prosecuting endless wars. Priorities like maintaining a large and apocalyptically powerful nuclear arsenal which protects us from no one. Priorities like developing technologies to spy on Americans like never before. Priorities like spending more on our military than the next six largest countries combined. Priorities like maintaining a prison where suspected terrorists are held indefinitely without charges or trial.
These are the real priorities on which we should focus the next fiscal year. Certainly not things like subsidizing student loans for graduate students, maintaining our National Parks, or building wind and solar energy infrastructure.

In any case, the Obama budget refers to itself as the Path to Fiscal Sustainability. Like I said before: the environment will always take a backseat to the economy. Always.


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