| When it comes to cutting the US deficit, the | | | | In his objectives, he aimed to cut spending by |
| government works hard to find excessive spending | | | | reducing the American military presence in Western |
| on a variety of programs. However, one key area | | | | Europe and in Japan. There are 3,000 marines in the |
| that is almost always overlooked despite its | | | | Japanese city of Okinawa, meaning that the United |
| excessive bloat is the defense budget. Military | | | | States must pay and support each marine stationed |
| spending is considered taboo by most politicians and | | | | there. These marines could be used more effectively |
| so, it is allowed to grow excessively. | | | | in other regions or in other roles within the military. |
| As an example, consider President Obama's ruling for | | | | Likewise, programs on weapons systems that don't |
| a freeze on discretionary spending. This proposal is | | | | have a strong application or foreseeable use can be |
| meant to help reduce the government's deficit by | | | | cut. |
| preventing new programs or increases in spending | | | | In the end, there are many ways in which the military |
| that could further increase the deficit. This freeze | | | | budget could be reduced in order to help fight the |
| does not apply to the defense budget, meaning that | | | | United States deficit. The United States military |
| the military spending can continue to grow without | | | | expenditures are well above any other country in the |
| significant regulation held upon it. | | | | world, and will continue to serve as a drag on the |
| Feeling in a similar fashion, Barney Frank of | | | | economy until politicians begin to take a stronger |
| Massachusetts created a budget commission assigned | | | | stance on removing these costs. |
| the task of looking for ways to cut military spending. | | | | |