Bobbie Wrenn Banks, education director of Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND), headquartered in Boston, will be in Elkhart and St. Joseph counties through Monday as part of a 10-state tour designed to open the eyes of American citizens to the nation’s checkbook and how the federal government spends the citizenrys’ money.
“Ms. Banks will point out that the Pentagon consumes over a billion dollars a day and that the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is costing $12 billion a month over and above that,” said Karen Jacob, president of WAND of Northern Indiana. “We have arranged a series of meetings where federal budget priorities including healthcare, education and other domestic services can be discussed. Constructive dialogue will be built toward redirecting excessive military resources toward unmet human and environmental needs.
“The women of WAND focus their message on high-tech weapons systems designed to fight the Soviet Union during the Cold War. These expensive systems now do little or nothing to make us safer, yet claim billions of tax dollars while millions of Americans lack health insurance, bridges are collapsing, investment in alternative energy is needed, and our national debt stands at $9 trillion and growing.
“War costs are another concern. According to the National Priorities Project, taxpayers in Goshen have paid $36.4 million for the cost of the Iraq War thus far. That money could have provided health care for 17,249 children, or 4,883 scholarships for university students, or 381 affordable housing units, or 898 public safety officers.
“We can change this.”
Jacobs said that the meetings are nonpartisan and are open to men, as well as women.
Itinerary
• Thursday — 7 p.m., St. Mary’s College, South Bend, “Faith Seeking Peace” workshop that examines federal budget priorities from a religious values perspective, Moreau Hall, Room 232. Contact Sierra Campoli at scampo01@saintmarys.edu
• Friday — 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart. Banks will be the featured “story teller” at chapel. Contact Ginny Martin at 296-6210.
6:30 p.m., WAND chapter strategy session with Banks. Contact Karen Jacob for location. She can be reached at 206-5753 or lovekaren55@msn.com.
• Saturday — 9 a.m., Elkhart County Democratic Party, Banks presentation of “The Great American Pie: Our Money. Our Priorities,” Old Country Buffet, Goshen, buffet breakfast $10 or coffee and doughnuts $3. Contact Shari Mellin at skmellin@comcast.net
1 to 3 p.m., Christiana Creek Country Club, Elkhart, “Messages with Wings” workshop, hosted by WAND for AAUW and other women’s groups grappling with talking effectively about the federal budget as “our moral checkbook.” Refreshments will be provided at a cost of $5. Contact Karen Jacob at 206-5753 or lovekaren55@msn.com
3 to 5 p.m., St. Joseph County Public Library, South Bend, Dickenson Room, “Redirecting Tax Dollars” workshop, sponsored by local members of the National War Tax Resistance Coordinating Committee.
Banks will give a 30-minute presentation starting at 4:30 p.m. on how to cut the “Great American Pie.” From 3 to 4:30 p.m., the group will discuss war tax resistance as part of the overall strategy for opposing the Iraq-Afghani wars. Contact Peter Smith at psmith@saintmarys.edu.
• Sunday — 11 a.m. to noon, Assembly Mennonite Church, 1201 S. 11th Street, Goshen. Banks will speak during the second part of the Sunday morning worship service. Contact Sue Burkholder at Suehburk@aol.com.
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