The government of these United States is headed for yet another fiscal crisis. Fiscal Year 2023 will end 30 June, and the Joe Biden administration’s proposed budget for FY 2024 is dependent upon raising the debt ceiling in order to pay the Nation’s bills. Naturally, the GOP is totally opposed to this idea, unless the president cuts spending drastically. Their idea is to target social programs, e.g. Social Security, Medicare, and school lunches.
The Pentagon received a big increase in FY 2023 (more that it asked for, BTW). Its share of the budget is rapidly approaching the one-trillion-dollar mark. Yes, you read that right, dear leader — $1,000,000,000,000 with no end in sight. Loaves for the military, crumbs for the rest of us, don’t you know?
The Chas is interested in cutting spending, but he doesn’t want to raise the debt ceiling either. What to do? The Coddington Agenda is an advocate for the following:
- First, we disavow the “foreign policy” of being the world’s policeman. Let the nations of the Earth spend their own money on “national security.”
- Second, we halt all military assistance in whatever form, money, weapons, equipment, training, etc., to anyone. Economic and humanitarian assistance only. Same reason as in No. 1.
- Third, we phase out all military bases overseas and re-deploy our service men and women closer to home. Same reason as No. 1.
- Fourth, we withdraw from all military alliances (NATO. SEATO, ANZAC, etc.). Same reason as No. 1. (Do you begin to see a pattern here, dear reader?)
- Fifth, we disband the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force and transfer their personnel and equipment to the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the National Guard. Having these duplicative agencies is at the heart of the bloated military budget.
- Sixth, we close the relevant military academies, recruiting stations, and ROTC programs. Same reason as No. 5.
- Seventh, we abolish the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the offices of the Secretaries of the Army and Air Force and downsize the Pentagon staff members, accordingly. Same reason as No. 5.
- Eighth, we reduce the number of ranks in the commissioned officers’ corps and the non-commissioned officers’ corps in order to eliminate the inefficiency of a top-heavy structure. Same reason as No. 5.
- Ninth, we return to the practice of competitive bidding on all military contracts, and we refuse to pay for any cost overruns which occurs when a bidder deliberately underbids in order to win a contract. Same reason as No. 5. (Gee, another pattern here, dear reader!)
- And finally 10th, we put the Pentagon on a short leash and hold it accountable for every taxpayer dollar it spends. Mismanagement of appropriations has been the hallmark of this agency, and trillions have disappeared down a rabbit hole as a result.
Now, some will call the above “isolationism.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The Chas calls it “fiscal responsibility,” and we can achieve an all-inclusive budget without having to raise the debt ceiling, or to cut important social spending. We will still have outreach to the nations of the Earth though our diplomatic corps, our trade agreements, and our humanitarian efforts.
And who knows? Perhaps the nations of the Earth will come to respect us again.
Just a thought!