Oppose the $16 billion fighter jet contract

July 17, 2010

Well, warriors, another (political) season is gone and a way too many nasty things to write letters about. Here’s the last one until the fall – the outrageous decision by the Harper government to purchase jet fighters for $16 billion (including 20 years of maintenance). And this at the same time that he is handing out $6 billion in tax breaks to corporations and facing a $54 billion deficit.  This is grossly irresponsible and we need to say so.

Write a letter to your local paper and copy the national papers, the Globe and Mail and the National Post.

FRAMING:  We need to frame this issue by painting Harper as completely irresponsible and even incompetent. These jets, one of the biggest purchases in the history of the military are utterly useless to Canada’s military or sovereignty needs. Even in the new and regrettable “war fighting” role of the military against insurgencies like the one in Afghanistan these fighters are useless.

Starting off your letters with a strongly worded viewpoint is the best way to get the editor’s attention.

Some facts and arguments for your letters.  Be sure to judge the length of your letters based on what your local editor normally accepts.

• We are entering – according to Harper himself – an era of greatly increased austerity where everyone has to tighten their belts. This expenditure is grossly irresponsible and threatens the fiscal health of the country.

• The government says the deficit will reach $54 billion this year – and yet has the gall to announce a huge spending program

• The government is continuing with its ill-conceived plan to cut corporate taxes to amongst the lowest of any developed country – a give away of $6 billion.

• Next spring – if they are still in power – the Conservatives will introduce a budget with huge cuts to social programs, while the military is getting buckets of cash.

• The new jets have been in the development stage for years and are essentially a cold war upgrade. But the cold war is over.

• Who is the enemy we would use these jets against? Russia is no longer a threat and not other country except our closest ally is in a position to pose a threat. The jets are designed to fight other jets. Whose jets?

• The government argues the purchase is good economic development - that Canadian companies like the Canadian branch of Lockheed Martin will get to bid on contracts. But military procurement is the least effective way to spend taxpayers’ dollars – over a million dollars a job compared to $100,000 for a nurse or teacher.

• The life of Canada’s existing CF-18s, expected to wear out between 2017 and 2020, could be extended by replacing their airframes.

• Fighter jest are the most ineffective and expensive way of protecting our sovereignty in the north – we need patrol planes that can monitor for incursions and a strong naval presence in the Arctic and on the coasts.

• This purchase speaks volumes about the power of the military lobby – boys with their toys and millions in profits.

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