It’s been almost ten years since one million people marched in New York’s Central Park in a massive demonstration for a nuclear freeze. Many observers believe the peace movement peaked at that point, as evidenced by the lopsided victories of Ronald Reagan and George Bush, who were responsible for huge increases in military spending.
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The authors of the report are a collection of computer wizards and researchers who work for the National Priorities Project, a not-for-profit research group based in Massachusetts. On the local front they have linked up with the Coalition for New Priorities, a network of Chicago unions, neighborhood groups, and left-of-center political activists. “The idea is to tell local states and communities just what the military budget has cost your community in terms of lost funds for housing, education, and the environment,” says Bernice Bild, a longtime Chicago activist and cochairman of the coalition. “Just think of all the transit and school crises and cutbacks we might have avoided had this money been better spent.”
The report notes that trillions of federal tax dollars have been spent over the last 40 years to build arms, employ and house soldiers, and dispatch troops throughout the world. Illinois’ contribution to that effort now amounts to roughly $15.8 billion a year–equal to more than half the state’s budget.
The report cites statistics from the city’s Economic Development Commission that reveal a dramatic shortage of industrial space in Chicago. “Current industry has a need for 45 million square feet of new industrial space, but only 15 million square feet are currently available,” states the report. “Despite strong interest in staying in Chicago because of transportation, access to parts and equipment, ‘just-in-time’ deliveries, and proximity to customers, companies find little choice but to leave.”
Finally, the report breaks down the military budget, documenting that roughly 78 percent is spent arming other countries or supporting troop installations throughout the world. “The share of tax dollars from Illinois residents that goes to NATO is $8.68 billion per year,” says Bild. “That’s outrageous. We could hire more police officers, build new schools, fix our streets with that money alone.”
