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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 20, 1995)
Opinion Thursday, July 20, 1995 * Page 4 -■ I Wasted dollars Defense spending cut not deep enough Although it is usually the Republican party that is known for its strict adherence to a national defense policy, Clinton’s limited cuts in defense actually have him spending more on defense than Reagan and Bush did. From 1981 through 1992, the U.S. spent 3 trillion dollars on military weapons, manpower, operations and maintenance. Here are some things that could have been purchased with that money: • $20 billion could have funded 40,000 drug enforcement officers at $50,000 per year for 10 years. • $40 billion could have built 800 new $50 million-dollar hospitals and medical research centers. • $40 billion could have built 16 new community colleges in each of the 50 states. • $100 billion could have have purchased and planted two billion trees in the U.S. • $100 billion could have significantly reduced cancer, heart disease, AIDS, and many other child and adult medical problems. • $200 billion could have built four million “Made in the U.S.A.” $50,000 tractors to improve agriculture and life in Third wunu countries. • $200 billion could have built four million houses for home less and poor Americans. • $300 billion could have eliminated the national deficit for a year, thereby reducing taxes for everyone. • $500 billion could have funded two million schools and many other needed public service jobs at $25,000 per year for 10 years. • And $1500 billion could have been used to double all the above, abolish most taxes or used for miscellaneous expenses. ' National defense should still be a priority, but it shouldn’t be our first. A tiny fraction of the above-mentioned miscellaneous expenses could have been used as adequate national defense, as the 192 warheads on one invulnerable submarine could destroy any country on Earth. Perhaps some of this extravagant spending was understandable during the Cold War. But since 1989, over 100 million people in Eastern Europe and 14 of the 15 former Soviet Republics have attained independence. And over 50 percent of the people formerly subject to Russian rule are building independent, democratic countries. Yet, the Clinton administration will spend $1 trillion additional dollars from 1993 through 1996. This is only an 8 percent de crease. Relative to the happenings in the former Soviet Union, the Clinton administration is pursuing a massive increase in defense spending. I NeHntskan Editor Joel Strauch, 472-1766 Features Editor Gerry Beltz Copy Desk Editors Jennifer Miratsky Courtney Mathleson Photo Chief Tanna Kfnnaman Art Director James Mehsling General Manager Daniel Shattil Production Manager Katherine Policky Advertising Manager Amy Struthers Asst. Advertising Manager Laura Wilson Publications Board Chairman Tim Hedegaard, 472-2988 Professional Adviser Don Walton, 473-7301 The Daily Nebraskan (USPS 144-080) is published by the UNL Publications Board. Nebraska Union 34,1400 H St., P.O. Box 880448, Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448, weekdays during the academic year (except holidays); weekly during the summer session. Readers are encouraged to submit story ideas and comments to the Daily Nebraskan by phoning 472-1763 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The public also has access to the Publications Board. For information, contact Tim Hedegaard, 472-2588. Subscription price is $50 for one year. Postmaster: Send address changes to the Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34.1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. Second-class postage paid at Lincoln, NE. ALL MATERIAL COPYRIGHT 1995 DAILY NEBRASKAN C~ \ \ cmV&im. ?RICfc «ER HOUSE m> ?Ro8um ft&lKKKr IT OCT __) n I v*> jc. <z> o € </) rr vose nm-Mm Adios Amigos! Hello Orlando! Whoever would have thought that eating bean burritos and soft tacos would get me to Florida? It certainly wouldn’t have been me, until my luck began to change with the beginning of the Amigos 15th anni versary celebration. In this event, the more often you use your VIP card at Amigos, the. more chances you have at winning. As it happened, the day the contest started my magic number was drawn, and I was a qualifier for the final drawing for a three-day vacation to one of six wonderful locales. A couple of days later, I received a letter in the mail from Amigos head quarters (located in a satellite in geo synchronous orbit approximately 20,000 miles above Boise, Idaho) in forming me of when the final drawing would be, and also enclosed were $ 10 in Amigos gift certificates. Oh happy day! Put the mexi-fries and taco-ritos on my tab. The weeks passed. So did the bean burritos. I checked every day at the Ne braska Union Amigos, always hoping to see my magic number on the board, saying that I had won the daily jackpot of $250 (or more), but sadly the Amigos money was not meant to be mine. However, after coming down to the Daily Nebraskan Monday morn ing, I had a message to call Chris, the manager of the upstairs Amigos. Mv heart began to flutter. All I could think about was that this could be my chance to be somebody, to be a contender, to... well, never mind. As it turned out, chance favored me on the day of the drawing, and I had won the vacation package. I had a choice of six places to take my three day vacation, including Orlando, Min neapplis and San Diego. The selections of Branson, Mo. Gerry Beltz ‘7 also kicked out Lake of the Ozarks, Ark. because I don 't feel like being Ned Beatty's stunt double for ‘Deliverance IV or meeting the rednecks that Jeff Foxworthy always talks about." and Deadwood, Colo, were dropped immediately from my mind. Dead wood had lots of snow, and I can get loads of that here already.. I knew nothing of Branson except that the picture on the Amigos poster of Branson had people standing around singing in cowboy hats. Thanks, but I’ll pass. I also kicked out Lake of the Ozarks, Ark. because I don’t feel like being Ned Beatty’s stunt double for “Deliv erance II” or meeting the rednecks that JelTFoxworthy always talks about. Eventually,it came down to a three way race between San Diego, Minne apolis and Orlando. San Diego and Orlando had the appealing warm cli mates to visit during the butt-cold Nebraska winter, and Minneapol is has the Grand Hotel (which is where I would be staying) and Mall of America. (I also hear that they play baseball up in Minnesota, but I also hear that they don’t play very well either.) Still, the thought of spending three days in 85 degree weather while my friends and family are freezing their butts off back at home was very ap pealing. San Diego would be fun, plus I have never been to California be fore. However, the weather is a bit un predictable in San Diego, and I want my sun, dammit! Orlando, Florida, here! come. I’m hoping to go sometime in early to mid-December, right after we’ve had our first blast of snow. Once I get there, the trip should be a proverbial hoot. I get deluxe accomodations for two, first morning breakfast for two (donuts and coffee), a discount coupon book, tickets to an area attraction, welcome gift upon ar rival (keychain or playing cards) and MOST IMPORTANTLY a compli mentary round of golf. I don’t golf, but dammit, it’s free! Now, the downside to all this is that nowhere on the poster do they men tion HOW I get to one of these six fabulous resorts, just what I can do once I get down there. I don’t care. I’m still going. Maybe I’ll take the trip in mid-January, thus taking advantage of the Christmas gift giving spirit to bring me cash to buy a plane ticket. I will have it all; deluxe accomodations, free golf, discount coupons, and a beach covered with tanned flesh. Now, if I only had someone to go with me... Beltz Is a senior secondary education major and the features editor of the Dally Nebras kan.