Is "Defense Spending" considered an "Entitlement"?

[bvar22]

I just watched NBC News with Brian Williams.

On the report on the budget, Williams was slightly critical of bush*s statement that he will cut the deficit by 1/2.
He DID point out that the bush*/republican proposal doesn't include additional spending in Iraq and Afghanistan,
or the money that bush*s plan for privatizing Social Security would require.

But he closed his piece by stating that the "only way to decrease the deficit is to cut entitlements or increase revenue".

Shouldn't "Cutting Defense Spending" be included?

I realize that this cut is unlikely, but for the PUBLIC'S sake it should at least be in the dialog.

Is my outrage justified?

[stray cat]

1. Is tax relief for the wealthy considered an entitlement.

Is corporate welface an entitlement?

[bvar22]

4. I agree.

My outrage is over the fact that NBC is assisting the bush*/republicans in Framing the Debate for cutting social programs!

I'm not shocked by that, since ALL USMEDIA is Corporate Owned, but the outrage is continuous.

It is up to us to keep the debate honest. Defense Spending and Corporate Welfare MUST BE MENTIONED every time the budget is mentioned!

[cornermouse]

2. I'm with you.

Military spending has become bloated beyond belief. Time to start carving on it. The Pentagon's failure to attempt to get money back from Halliburton for services not rendered is a prime piece of evidence as far as I'm concerned.

[diamond14]

6. Bloated Military Spending PIECHART (link/graph)

http://www.warresisters.org/piechart.htm



Total Federal Funds ( Outlays ): $ 1,926 Billion




Current Military, $536B:Military Personnel $109B, Operation and Maintenance $164B, Procurement $67B, Research and Development $66B, Construction $6B, Family Housing $4B, Retired Pay $44B, DoE Nuclear Weapons $17B, 50% NASA $8B, International Security $8B, 50%
Homeland Security $16B, Ex. Off. Pres. $10B, misc. $6B

Iraq & Afghan Wars, $50B: Though the cost of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is not included in the President’s budget, it is included here because the Administration will request supplemental funding after the Nov. 2004 election.

Past Military, $349B: Veterans’ Benefits $69B; Interest on National Debt (80% estimated to be created by military spending) $280B

Human Resources, $633B: Education, Health/Human Services, HUD, Food/Nutrition programs, Labor Department, Soc. Sec. Admin.

General Government, $244B: Legislative, Justice Dept., State Dept., International Affairs, Treasury, Gov’t. Personnel, 20% interest on national debt, 50% of NASA, 25% Homeland Security

Physical Resources, $114B: Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Interior Dept., Transportation, Environmental Protection, Army Corps Engineers, NSF, FCC, 25% Homeland Security

[Kingshakabobo]

3. Sure it is. Who screams the loudest when a weapons system

is canceled or a base is closed? Not the Generals but the Congressmen from the districts in which they are manufactured or located.

[indepat]

5. Humongous defense spending is the military-industrial complex's

entitlement. Let the people eat cake.