The Military-Petroleum Complex

The Second Iraq War and the cronies of state capitalism

"...asked the U.S. Congress to approve an $87 billion spending package to pay for the war and for reconstruction..."

June 18, 2004 News Feature by Robert Bryce

Instead of Spending to 'Blow Up' Maybe We Should Spend to 'Help People'

"..."protect America" from terrorists and the like with our military. Just what can $500 billion buy? Considering that we..."

July 5, 2005 Postmarks

Letters at 3AM: Why Not Chicken Fat?

The most important political question of our time: Who benefits from military spending?

"...Pentagon, but they love oil more. They'll give our military anything it wants – except biofuel...."

Sept. 7, 2012 Column by Michael Ventura

Postmarks

It's a salmagundi of responses this issue, with bits regarding dolphin bacteria, word use, national politics, and Marc Savlov's cinematic taste (or lack thereof).

"...and was disturbed by the numbers you mentioned regarding military spending and children's health spending. I bristle at the..."

Dec. 1, 2000 Column

Nukes Are Back!

The Bush administration plans for the next (little) nuclear wars

"...1830 hours. All are in uniform: the military brass, their crew cuts periscoping above their dress whites..."

Jan. 16, 2004 News Feature by William M. Adler

Page Two

If you want to cut government spending, legalize pot, plus more pearls on government spending (or lack thereof) and the Austin Film and Green festivals.

"...into debt, but with massive tax cuts and steep spending increases (mostly related to security, defense, Afghanistan, and Iraq),..."

Oct. 10, 2003 Column by Louis Black

Page Two

Expect the next decade to be dominated by a weak economy and precarious international politics -- the consequences of Bush's successes.

"...I more or less supported both those military engagements, though many friends disagreed, regarding this as more..."

Feb. 7, 2003 Column by Louis Black

The Hightower Report

The Pentagon spends more than a billion in tax dollars every day; and commercial soul, not corporate logos, is what counts

"...Wow, you'd be living high on the hog! So, spending at that rate, how long would it take you..."

Nov. 11, 2005 News Column by Jim Hightower

Naked City

Obese military budget crushes local governments, group alleges

"...to call attention to the wastefulness of the U.S. military budget and its damaging effect on national and local..."

May 27, 2005 News Feature by Michael King

Postmarks

Our readers talk back.

"...to Bush's proposed budget and its unprecedented increase in military spending as we enter a state of undeclared perpetual..."

Feb. 15, 2002 Column

American Sniper

Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper tell Chris Kyle's war story.

"...the most prolific sniper in the annals of U.S. military history – the film exists in a black-and-white world..."

Jan. 16, 2015 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Page Two: Bond on Bond

All seven propositions on the current ballot represent a triumph of thought, vision, and planning

"...contribute so greatly to the bloated defense budget. Lest pro-military-spending folks work themselves up: If we just limit "bloated"..."

Oct. 27, 2006 Column by Louis Black

Page Two

The price of Republican domination and the pleasures of repeated listening

"...There's bigger government than ever, only it's Republican-dominated. Government spending continues to increase, without substantial budget-cutting. There's no hint..."

May 20, 2005 Column by Louis Black

The 'Chronicle' Endorsements

Our picks for the Nov. 7 election

"...Grant Rostig, who calls for lower taxes but more military spending and has embraced the Minutemen border vigilantes.General Election..."

Nov. 3, 2006 News Feature

The 'Chronicle' Endorsements

Our picks for the Nov. 7 election

"...Grant Rostig, who calls for lower taxes but more military spending and has embraced the Minutemen border vigilantes.General Election..."

Oct. 27, 2006 News Feature

The 'Chronicle' Endorsements

Our picks for the Nov. 7 election

"...Grant Rostig, who calls for lower taxes but more military spending and has embraced the Minutemen border vigilantes.General Election..."

Oct. 20, 2006 News Feature

The Hightower Lowdown

Star Wars boondoggle, MBNA's bankruptcy fraud, and the CIA's cooked books

"...Bush. They're like little boys with a set of military toys -- we'll put our missiles in Alaska or..."

March 30, 2001 News Column by Jim Hightower

Texas DOGE Committee Looks to Form $88M State Cybersecurity Agency

Cyber Command would dramatically expand spending on cybersecurity

"...dedicated to cybersecurity. The new agency would dramatically expand spending on cybersecurity work. In addition to contractors, it would..."

March 28, 2025 News Feature by Maggie Quinlan

Stop the Loss

Austin veterans turn away from Iraq and war

"...about the reality of life in Iraq for U.S. military personnel...."

Dec. 19, 2008 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

Unbroken

The heroic story of Louis Zamperini, who endured harrowing hardships during World War II, is the subject of Angelina Jolie's second movie.

"...a life raft, getting rescued by the Japanese, and spending the rest of the war shuttled between harsh POW..."

Dec. 26, 2014 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Point Austin: Government by Panic

The 'sequester' says more about our politics than our economy

"...how about defense funding? Loss of $275 million in military support in Texas will translate to the loss of..."

March 1, 2013 News Column by Michael King

Super 8

This throwback to the monster movies of the Seventies evokes the early work of Steven Spielberg.

"...fits into the Amblin template, these particular kids are spending their summer vacation making a zombie movie for submission..."

June 10, 2011 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Live-Blogging the City Budget Adoption

Continuously updated blog of the budget adoption.

"...preparation. Plus, as she budgeted most of the discretionary spending already under the auspice of "council priorities," there's far..."

Sept. 10, 2007 News Post by Wells Dunbar

The Hightower Report

Our tax dollars outfit military contractors, but not the troops; and our representatives are less than representative.

"...they cynically shortchange these very troops at budget time? Military spending is now nearly $400 billion a year --..."

Jan. 24, 2003 News Column by Jim Hightower

Naturally Nader

Consumer Advocate Mounts Green Party Presidential Campaign

"...questions on predictable issues. You win by raising and spending tens of millions of dollars given to you by..."

April 7, 2000 News Feature by Robert Bryce

Starship Troopers

In this spectacle, lethal insects from outer space do battle with student soldiers. When in Austin recently, Oliver Stone called Starship Troopers "One of the best war films in recent years."

"...the alien creepy crawlies. Howard Sternesque single-entendre humor, coed military showers, and battlefield sex all remind us that this..."

Nov. 7, 1997 Movie Review by Russell Smith

Letter at 3AM

While remembering September 11, we owe it to ourselves to remember what its horrors have been shamelessly manipulated to obscure.

"...W. Bush, safe in Air Force One, hopped from military base to military base while the White House (as..."

Sept. 6, 2002 Column by Michael Ventura

Top of the Ticket: Third Party Options

The presidential election isn't just a choice between a racist demagogue and an institutional hawk

"...jobs, tuition-free education, an end to poverty, and cutting military spending by 50%. Stein invited international human-rights activist Ajamu..."

Aug. 26, 2016 News Feature by Mary Tuma

Naked City

Military taxation resisters direct their money toward peace

"...around the corner, members of Austin Conscientious Objectors to Military Taxation are making it known that they do not..."

Jan. 28, 2005 News Feature by Wells Dunbar

Balancing the Books After Years of Neglecting Schools

The Texas Legislature wants to fix school finance, but how?

"...it comes after the state's own contribution to school spending statewide has dropped – from over 50% two decades..."

April 7, 2017 News Feature by Richard Whittaker

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