Iowans Explain: What is "Real Security"

Apr 7, 2011

View PDF

February 4th, 2010

Sen. Charles Grassley
721 Federal Building
210 Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50309

Dear Senator Grassley,

We are concerned about our national security and the fact that it has come to be defined solely in terms of military strength. We know that you, as a member of the Senate Budget Committee, think about national security every day and that you are deeply committed to doing it right. You have the awesome responsibility of making sound investments in our common future. To that end, we ask you to lend your support to having the Budget Committee hold hearings on how we define and think about national security.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, security means “the condition of being protected from or not exposed to danger; safety.” At present we know that the U.S. stands alone as the greatest military power in history. We can win any military battle anywhere at any time. On the other hand, we face real dangers to our way of life on other fronts: Global climate change looms over us. We desperately need to develop alternative forms of energy. Our system of public schools and universities is suffering, with some people going so far as so suggest that it is no longer worth the investment. Epidemiological threats no longer respect national borders. All of these perils are much more imminent and dangerous than any that we face militarily.

Iowa taxpayers have contributed nearly $7 billion toward the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now the state faces a ten percent across-the-board cut in state expenditures. This cut, which amounts to $564 million, is a small percentage of what has been allocated to the wars. We are looking at deep cuts in both early education and higher education and in the state workforce. Outside of one-time stimulus funds, federal grants to Iowa which help state and local governments with income support, infrastructure, education and social services, have decreased by eighteen percent. This situation is not sustainable. We trust that you will agree with us that this situation is serious and must be addressed. We advocate a historic series of three Budget Committee hearings to assess the meaning of our national security and what it entails:

Diplomacy, Development and International Cooperation: Many of our national leaders have said Congress needs to dramatically increase funding for trained diplomats who can help address conflicts before they turn violent, expand foreign aid programs that can prevent the root causes of violent conflicts, and support international agencies with a proven record of addressing international conflicts.

Protecting the Environment to Protect Ourselves: Greenhouse gas emissions threaten our air and water supplies and access to declining natural resources is a source of conflict. Scientists have identified specific strategies to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, increase energy efficiency, and create jobs through investments in green industries. Congress should expand funding for these efforts.

Human Needs: The recent economic crisis dramatically reduced funding for many critical state expenditures that are dedicated to issues such as poverty reduction, health care, housing, and education. These investments are critical to the long-term security of our nation, especially this year when our state government must cut back in programs to address our state deficit. And yet the FY 2010 federal budget cuts over 18% of federal aid to Iowa.

As concerned Iowans of diverse backgrounds, we appeal to you to address our security needs strategically and effectively. The military, which consumes too much of our wealth, cannot be the only lens with which we assess our well-being. We look forward to hearing from you and your staff and setting up a personal follow-up meeting with you.

Sincerely,

Deborah Fink, Ames

Methodist Federation for Social Action, Iowa Chapter
Jan Laue, Secretary, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL,CIO (organizational endorsement)
Iowa Environmental Council, Des Moines
Paullina Friends Meeting, Paullina
Gerald Iverson, Sioux City, Siouxland Peace Coalition (organizational endorsement)
Ames Friends Meeting, Ames
First Friends Church, Marshalltown
Catholic Peace Ministry, Des Moines
Paying Our Dues Productions
Carolyn & James Cornette, Ames
Tom Morain, Lamoni
A.M. Fink, Ames
Marjie Foster, Owner Linden Street Coffee House, Lamoni
George Jones, Attorney and Counselor at Law, Lamoni
Dr. Linda DeBarthe, Professor of Accounting and Business Administration, Graceland University
Rev. Darline Balm-Demmel, Cedar Falls
Dr. Barbara Hiles Mesle, Lamoni
Marian Killpack, Associate Dean of Students, Graceland University, Lamoni
Dr. C. Robert Mesle, Lamoni
Dan and Sarah Beane, Garwin
Barbara Sutherland, Ellston
Greg Sutherland, Ellston
Dr. Priscilla Eppinger, Lamoni
Dustee Heinze, Campus Minister, Graceland University, Lamoni
Professor William D. Russell, Lamoni
Paige Webberley, Lamoni
Lois Beach Russell, Lamoni
Christine Gaunt, Grinnell
Dorothy Fyfe, Grinnell
Nancy Cadmus, Grinnell
Robert Cadmus, Grinnell
Silvio Curtis, Grinnell
Kent McClelland, Grinnell
Dave Heinze, Lamoni
Tabor Nowlin, Lamoni
Charlee Redick, R.N., L.I.S.W. Personal Counselor, Graceland University, Lamoni
Dan Gregory, West Des Moines
Catharine Craig, Graceland University, Lamoni
Cathie Hosie, Lamoni
Colleen Schmitt, Scattergood Friends School, West Branch
Max and Cindy Pitt, Lamoni
Carolyn Raffensperger, Ames
Betty Young, Ames
Eggy Luvaga, Ames
Amanda Okopski, Ames
Carla Barten, Ames
James Murdock and Catherine Scott, Ames
Burt and Birdie Kisling, Indianola
Johnie Hammond, Ames
Gordon Bivens, Indianola
Eloise Cranke, Des Moines
Danielle Wirth, Woodward
Jerold Mathews, Ames
Ruth Kenny-Randolph, Johnston
Christina Kieltyka, Mystic
John Hauptman, Ames
Lee Tesdell, Slater
Sue McCracken, Fairfield
Ruth and Ralph Scharnau, Dubuque
Dorothy Schwieder, Ames
Robert Crandall, Des Moines
Paul Deaton, Solon
Joanna Corteau, Ames
Jacob Howe, West Branch
Kathleen McQuillen, Des Moines
Jeffrey Weiss, Des Moines
Robert and Sallyann McCarthy, Clinton
Chester Guinn, Des Moines
Sister Vicky Amdorfer, RSM, Clinton
Evalee Mickey, North Liberty, Iowa
Bonnie Murphy
Ginny Heldorfer, Dubuque
Barbara Untz
Eleanore Kilcoyne, Clinton
Joan C. Theiss, Clinton
Ann Martin Plelan, Clinton
Jan McCarthy, Clinton
Dr. Rita Swan, Bronson
Joseph W. Grant
Gerald Iversen, Sioux City
Tom Morain, Lamoni
Lois Beach Russell, Lamoni
Judith Lonning, Des Moines
Sister Mary Smith, Clinton
Win and Ellis Standing, Earlham
Rose Quirk, Waterloo
Karla Hansen, Clive, Caring Connections
Dr. and Mrs. Frederick B. Crane, Mt Pleasant
Joyce Cummings, Ames
David Drake, DM
Carole Winkleblack, Marshalltown
Katherine B. Sinning, Marshalltown
Irlanda Helgen, Marshalltown
Mary Stewart, Marshalltown
Linda Bainer, Melbourne
Myrna Frank, Haverhill
Mary Brooks, Marshalltown
Nancy Adams, Melbourne
Kathryn Kerrigan, Marshalltown
Don Laughlin, West Branch Friends Meeting
George Bergus, Iowa City