I recently read some information compiled by the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers) that I found shocking. In 2008 the United States spent $976,121,986,000 on the military. That is $1.9 million spent every single minute for war. Based on President Obama's budget to Congress for 2010, 57 percent of discretionary spending will go to the military (Department of Defense, War, Veterans Affairs). The next closest category is Health and Human Services with 6 percent. We spend as much on our military as the combined totals of the next 15 largest national military budgets. That's China, Russia, Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, India, Brazil, Italy, Austria, Canada, Indonesia and the Netherlands.

What if we spent 10 percent of the military budget on actual peace initiatives? I believe the world would be a much better place for everyone. When the country is struggling to find a way to fund improved health care for all, why isn't the war budget discussed as a potential source of funds? We could certainly find a small fraction of the military budget to improve the health care for the people of this country.

Go to www.OneMinuteForPeace.org and check it out.

Chris Hunter

616 Wintergreen Court