To the editor:

I’ve been listening to the political debates between Moran and Tiahrt arguing as to who is the more conservative and who hates Pelosi and immigrants more, telling us how much Obama’s policies will cost the American taxpayers. I have yet to hear them or the other tea bag members mention how much the war is costing taxpayers. It is as if the Magic War Fairy covers the cost of policing the world and it does not cost the taxpayer anything.

Here are a few statistics for those interested. The defense budget for 2010 has increased again and will be between $880 billion and $1 trillion, about 28 percent to 30 percent of tax revenues. The United States spends close to twice the rest of the world combined for military spending, nine times that of China. This represents 25 percent to 29 percent of the U.S. budget. Think about this! You say national security is necessary, and I don’t necessarily disagree, but I do know a common working man who has no job or insurance and can’t afford to feed and clothe his family may have a different definition of security!