I want to be Part of the Solution . . . The 25% Solution:
APPEAL TO PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE U.S. CONGRESS:
REDUCE MILITARY SPENDING 25% - FUND OUR COMMUNITIES
With the U.S. facing devastating economic and environmental crises, with our states and cities forced into layoffs and cutbacks, now is the moment to demand a shift in our country’s priorities. Military spending -- now more than $700 billion per year -- is bankrupting our country and draining the life blood of our communities.
Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank, in calling for a 25% reduction in military spending, has put the issue clearly -- “If we are not able to get military spending under control……we will not be able to respond to important domestic needs.”
We support a 25% reduction in military spending, with the savings redirected to urgent needs, including the funding of jobs in housing, health care, education, clean energy and infrastructure repairs -- and preventing the layoff of State and local public workers in the Commonwealth.
The call for a 25% reduction is a practical step. Just ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, cutting unneeded weapons programs, and eliminating wasteful spending would easily meet the goal without compromising our security in any way.
BACKGROUND:
--The US spends almost as much on its military as all the other countries of the world combined.
--The military budget almost doubled during the eight years of the Bush administration.
--More than half of all U.S. annual discretionary spending goes to the military and war fighting.
--Tens of billions are spent on costly and unnecessary weapons systems.
--The US maintains more than 800 military bases in almost 100 foreign countries.
--The U.S. pours nearly $500,000 per minute into the Iraq war.
The 25% Solution campaign of Greater Boston United for Justice with Peace is part of a nation-wide campaign to cut military spending and fund our communities.
APPEAL TO PRESIDENT OBAMA AND THE U.S. CONGRESS:
REDUCE MILITARY SPENDING 25% - FUND OUR COMMUNITIES
With the U.S. facing devastating economic and environmental crises, with our states and cities forced into layoffs and cutbacks, now is the moment to demand a shift in our country’s priorities. Military spending -- now more than $700 billion per year -- is bankrupting our country and draining the life blood of our communities.
Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank, in calling for a 25% reduction in military spending, has put the issue clearly -- “If we are not able to get military spending under control……we will not be able to respond to important domestic needs.”
We support a 25% reduction in military spending, with the savings redirected to urgent needs, including the funding of jobs in housing, health care, education, clean energy and infrastructure repairs -- and preventing the layoff of State and local public workers in the Commonwealth.
The call for a 25% reduction is a practical step. Just ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, cutting unneeded weapons programs, and eliminating wasteful spending would easily meet the goal without compromising our security in any way.
BACKGROUND:
--The US spends almost as much on its military as all the other countries of the world combined.
--The military budget almost doubled during the eight years of the Bush administration.
--More than half of all U.S. annual discretionary spending goes to the military and war fighting.
--Tens of billions are spent on costly and unnecessary weapons systems.
--The US maintains more than 800 military bases in almost 100 foreign countries.
--The U.S. pours nearly $500,000 per minute into the Iraq war.
The 25% Solution campaign of Greater Boston United for Justice with Peace is part of a nation-wide campaign to cut military spending and fund our communities.
Download petition and collect signatures in your city/town and neighborhood:
25% Solution Campaign Petition/back (doc)
Send your petitions to the 25% Solution Campaign, c/o UJP, 2161 Mass. Ave, Cambridge, 02140
25% Solution Campaign Petition/back (doc)
Send your petitions to the 25% Solution Campaign, c/o UJP, 2161 Mass. Ave, Cambridge, 02140
Individuals who have signed the 25% Solution Campaign Petition:
Massachusetts Residents:
Sharon Tramer Newton
Claire Gosselin Roslindale
Gretchen Klotz Newton
Sue Gracey Brookline
Joan Ecklein Newton
Marie-Louise Jackson-Miller Quincy
Patricia Simon Waltham
Nancy Ruggiero Brookline
Virginia Pratt Jamaica Plain
Ralph Galen Lawrence
H. Holmes Jr. Brockton
Coleman Harrison Roslindale
John Mannheim Concord
Arthur Holcombe Cambridge
Jacqueline Ladd Natick
Jessica Fogore Revere
Stacey Schamber Jamaica Plain
Steven Botkin Pelham
Susan Lees Arlington
Emily Snyder Arlingon
Massoudeh Edmond Arlington
Thea Paneth Arlington
Chris Nauman Arlington
George Capaccio Arlington
Steve Stodola Arlington
Mike Prokosch Dorchester
Angela Kelly Dorchester
Jeff Klein Dorchester
Vicky Steinitz Cambridge
Jaspial Rai Cambridge
Christine Hoepfner Cambridge
Begum Jahan Cambridge
Betsy Leander-Wright Cambridge
Gail Leander-Wright Cambridge
Anne Tolbert Cambridge
Caitlin Key Cambridge
Tommy Neblitt Framingham
Claire Schwab Cambridge
Eva Tomczyk Cambridge
Virginia Wallace Cambridge
Ed Dupree Cambridge
Rebecca Doughty Cambridge
Betty Miblindler Cambridge
Steve Schnapp Cambridge
Honey Schnapp Cambridge
Dorothy Elizabeth Tucker Medford
Mary Berg Cambridge
Eliza Mullouk Melrose
Emily Capurso Somerville
Michael Alves Milford
Erica Riddle Arlington
Sheila Pastore Portland, OR
Heather Hoffman Cambridge
Erica Jaquith Cambridge
Noa Grayevsky Cambridge
Erica Sigal Brighton
Tom Pietrzak Cambridge
Michael Wilson Cambridge
Deborah Freye Boston
Harold Roberts Somerville
Joan Arcks Waltham
Jim Mniece Waltham
Kathy Hoben Waltham
Chris O'Brien Medford
Angeline Ferdinand Rochdale
Kupal Patel Brookline
Nancy Seymour Cambridge
Lucy Stroock Cambridge
Whitney Davis Somerville
Beatriz Senior Brighton
Jenya Zhilina Malden
Maxine Lyons Newton
Martha Cohen Belmont
Other states:
Patrick Lallo Newfane, VT.
Ruth Weizenbaum Pawtucket, RI
Rebecca Polk Bloomfield Hills, MI
Ariana DeToro Asheville, NC
Larry Bucher Baltimore, MD
Lydia Spitalny Silver Spring, MD
Corasse Germay Brattleboro, VT
Bronna M. Zlochiver Vernon, VT
Sandra Miller Vermont
Gina Sonne Vermont
G. Krueger Diluth MN
Massachusetts Residents:
Sharon Tramer Newton
Claire Gosselin Roslindale
Gretchen Klotz Newton
Sue Gracey Brookline
Joan Ecklein Newton
Marie-Louise Jackson-Miller Quincy
Patricia Simon Waltham
Nancy Ruggiero Brookline
Virginia Pratt Jamaica Plain
Ralph Galen Lawrence
H. Holmes Jr. Brockton
Coleman Harrison Roslindale
John Mannheim Concord
Arthur Holcombe Cambridge
Jacqueline Ladd Natick
Jessica Fogore Revere
Stacey Schamber Jamaica Plain
Steven Botkin Pelham
Susan Lees Arlington
Emily Snyder Arlingon
Massoudeh Edmond Arlington
Thea Paneth Arlington
Chris Nauman Arlington
George Capaccio Arlington
Steve Stodola Arlington
Mike Prokosch Dorchester
Angela Kelly Dorchester
Jeff Klein Dorchester
Vicky Steinitz Cambridge
Jaspial Rai Cambridge
Christine Hoepfner Cambridge
Begum Jahan Cambridge
Betsy Leander-Wright Cambridge
Gail Leander-Wright Cambridge
Anne Tolbert Cambridge
Caitlin Key Cambridge
Tommy Neblitt Framingham
Claire Schwab Cambridge
Eva Tomczyk Cambridge
Virginia Wallace Cambridge
Ed Dupree Cambridge
Rebecca Doughty Cambridge
Betty Miblindler Cambridge
Steve Schnapp Cambridge
Honey Schnapp Cambridge
Dorothy Elizabeth Tucker Medford
Mary Berg Cambridge
Eliza Mullouk Melrose
Emily Capurso Somerville
Michael Alves Milford
Erica Riddle Arlington
Sheila Pastore Portland, OR
Heather Hoffman Cambridge
Erica Jaquith Cambridge
Noa Grayevsky Cambridge
Erica Sigal Brighton
Tom Pietrzak Cambridge
Michael Wilson Cambridge
Deborah Freye Boston
Harold Roberts Somerville
Joan Arcks Waltham
Jim Mniece Waltham
Kathy Hoben Waltham
Chris O'Brien Medford
Angeline Ferdinand Rochdale
Kupal Patel Brookline
Nancy Seymour Cambridge
Lucy Stroock Cambridge
Whitney Davis Somerville
Beatriz Senior Brighton
Jenya Zhilina Malden
Maxine Lyons Newton
Martha Cohen Belmont
Other states:
Patrick Lallo Newfane, VT.
Ruth Weizenbaum Pawtucket, RI
Rebecca Polk Bloomfield Hills, MI
Ariana DeToro Asheville, NC
Larry Bucher Baltimore, MD
Lydia Spitalny Silver Spring, MD
Corasse Germay Brattleboro, VT
Bronna M. Zlochiver Vernon, VT
Sandra Miller Vermont
Gina Sonne Vermont
G. Krueger Diluth MN
Elected Officials who have signed the 25% Solution Campaign Petition:
Thomas Menino, Mayor of Boston, MA
David Cohen, Mayor of Newton, MA
Organizations who have signed the 25% Solution Campaign Organizational Petition:
-Progressive Democrats of Somerville
-Social Action Committee of the Arlington Street Church, Boston
-Adbar Ethopian Women's Alliance, Cambride
-Cambridge and El Salvador Sister City Project
Thomas Menino, Mayor of Boston, MA
David Cohen, Mayor of Newton, MA
Organizations who have signed the 25% Solution Campaign Organizational Petition:
-Progressive Democrats of Somerville
-Social Action Committee of the Arlington Street Church, Boston
-Adbar Ethopian Women's Alliance, Cambride
-Cambridge and El Salvador Sister City Project