Kill future manned space missions and use only robotic rovers. A manned Mars mission is estimated to cost between $50 billion and $500 billion. Rovers to Mars or to Mercury, Venus and the rocky moons of the gas giant planets only cost about $3 billion each and can explore for years rather than just weeks or months and without breathing, eating and drinking.
The military budget could be cut by at least 10% without compromising readiness, saving $82 billion annually. Elon Musk is correct on one point: don’t produce any more F35 fighters (over 600 are in service with 1,800 more scheduled.) And kill the F47 in embryo — these would cost $50 billion to develop and $300 million each. Drones are far cheaper and have proven highly effective in Ukraine.
Reduce or end the annual $3.8 billion in military aid to Israel, which should foot that bill itself.
End the “War on Drugs” or at least on pot. The Gettman report cites national expenditures for enforcing marijuana laws running into billions of dollars.
Stop the Trump tax cuts from being made permanent which would save $4.5 trillion (with a T) over 10 years.
Block Trump’s imperialistic fantasies of buying, annexing or invading Greenland, the Panama Canal, Canada, etc., which would cost billions and would put into jeopardy all remaining U.S. treaties and alliances the value of which is immeasurable.
Finally, allow presidents only three or four vacation trips on Air Force One per year; these cost taxpayers $3.4 million each. Presidents should have to reimburse the government for additional ones.
Please share this and your own ideas with Utah’s Congressional “leaders.”
Jim Catano, Salt Lake City
