Invest in People, Not Pentagon

The “Solve the Budget Puzzle” forum in Seattle on Friday Feb 22 drew about 85 people. Members of the community shared short, compelling stories about the impacts of the economic crash in their own communities. The wide range of issues and concerns included education, Head Start, homelessness, health care, social security & Medicare, mental health, poverty, prisons, veterans’ issues, Pentagon cuts, food banks/hunger.

You can watch video of the stories (thanks to Dennis Mills): https://wwfor.org/latest-news/solving-the-budget-puzzle-sharing-our-stories-with-our-representatives/

Staff from Congressmen Jim McDermott and Adam Smith’s offices attended and were visibly moved; they shared their own reactions to the stories. People were encouraged to join in future actions to Protect Human Needs & Cut Pentagon Spending. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell chose not to send staff to the event, although their request for stories helped spark the event. Please communicate with Senator Murray, who as chair of the powerful Senate Budget Committee, has made public statements supporting cuts to the Pentagon while protecting human needs spending. She needs to hear from her constituents to stand tall in the ongoing Federal budget negotiations: 202-224-2621.

WWFOR worked on the forum, as well as successful delegations, with the Church Council of Greater Seattle, the Faith Action Network, American Friends Service Committee, GI Voice, Green Party of Washington State, Veterans for Peace, Chapter 92, WA State Progressive Caucus, and others.