This article originally appeared on the site Veterans for Peace.
RESOLUTION ASKING THE U.S. CONGRESS TO END THE EXPENDITURE OF OUR CITIZENS’ TAX DOLLARS FOR EXCESSIVE AND UNAFFORDABLE WAR FUNDING
WHEREAS, the financial resources available for use by governments at the local, county, state and federal levels in the United States are and must be limited; and
WHEREAS, the people of Portland, Maine are collectively paying or becoming indebted for approximately 15 million dollars per year of their limited financial resources for warfare in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan; and
WHEREAS, such expenditure is inordinate to the identified public benefits to Maine and the nation; and
WHEREAS, this warfare too often creates great and unnecessary harm to U.S. military personnel and their families, and to the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan; and
WHEREAS, essential public services such as education, infrastructure repair, family and small-business financing, and community policing in Portland and throughout the State of Maine have been substantially reduced while an excessive portion of available financial resources is diverted from the constructive economy to largely unnecessary warfare.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
THAT the City of Portland, Maine respectfully requests that the U.S.
Representative from the First Maine Congressional District and both of Maine’s U.S. Senators oppose all legislation brought before the 111th U.S. Congress that provides further funding of the U.S. warfare and U.S. military occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan; and that the City of Portland, Maine also urges these members of Congress to take strong and forceful action to influence the U.S. Congress to terminate funding of these military operations.
Go Portland! Go Maine! My son is currently living in your beautiful anti-war state, with its proud history of independent thought and strong involvement in the Abolitionist movement. Great resolution!