Bugged by the budget

Re “Bottom line for Bush’s ’08 budget: contention,” Feb. 6

Where are all those fiscal Republicans? President Bush has wasted billions of taxpayer dollars for nearly four years on his quest to occupy and control Iraq. You would think the fiscal Republicans would be up in arms about such senseless and wasteful spending. Hopefully, a Democratic Congress will put an end to this sort of irresponsible spending.

STEPHEN NETHERLAIN

Lake Forest

*

As much as half of the $140 billion in weapons expenditures proposed by Bush is not part of the Iraq and Afghanistan section of the budget. Many items are outdated systems promoted by lobbyists and should be axed by the Democratic Congress. The $70 billion or so in savings would be better spent in dozens of ways, including helping to develop jobs, schools and goodwill throughout the region.

JACK COOPER

Van Nuys

*

You report that Pentagon spending as a fraction of the U.S. gross domestic product is the smallest it has been in decades (Feb. 5). Oblique references to GDP obscure how government funds itself.

To do the American taxpayer a service, please show how federal taxes, as well as military spending, have evolved as a fraction of the taxable portion of GDP. If the military needs a larger fraction of our taxable income, then the Pentagon must persuade the taxpayer to cough it up. The Joint Chiefs ought to have the courage to ask the citizens for higher taxes if the mission is so critical.

BERNARD ROTH

Santa Barbara

*

The latest Super Brawl results: Bush and Co.: tax cutters for the rich, war profiteers and spenders, 100; We the People: the taxpayers, 0.

JEROLD DRUCKER

Tarzana