Facts (from the Business Insider):
15 Facts About Military Spending That Will Blow Your Mind
America spends more on its military than THE NEXT 15 COUNTRIES COMBINED
The total known land area occupied by U.S. bases and facilities is 15,654 square miles -- bigger than D.C., Massachusetts, and New Jersey combined.
By 2033 the U.S. will be paying $59 billion a year to its veterans injured in the wars
In 2007, the amount of money labeled 'wasted' or 'lost' in Iraq -- $11 billion -- could pay 220,000 teachers salaries
Defense spending is higher today than at any time since the height of World War II
America's defense spending doubled in the same period that its economy shrunk from 32 to 23 percent of global output*
The yearly cost of stationing one soldier in Iraq could feed 60 American families.
Each day in Afghanistan costs the government more than it did to build the entire Pentagon
In 2008, the Pentagon spent more money every five seconds in Iraq than the average American earned in a year
The pentagon budget consumes 80% of individual income tax revenue
Two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Defense Department still has more than 40 generals, admirals or civilian equivalents based in Europe
The Pentagon spends more on war than all 50 states combined spend on health, education, welfare, and safety
The amount the government has spent compensating radiation victims of nuclear testing ($1.5 billion) could fully educate 13,000 American kids
The U.S. has 5% of the world's population -- but almost 50% of the world's total military expenditure
__________________________________________________The point?
It needs changing. We need to cut defense spending, at least by half. We'd still outspend the rest of the world--and heavily, even wildly. Contact your member of Congress, both the House and your 2 members in the Senate and tell them we need to cut defense spending. And as soon as possible.