Taxes, COVID-19 and Nuclear Weapons Funding -- Our Nation's Priorities

Apr 25, 2020 | Robert Dodge
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This is the time in April we traditionally fund our nation’s priorities. There is nothing traditional this year. In the midst of the international COVID-19 pandemic, tax day has been placed on hold just as much of the world has. It is also the time of year that we fund our greatest existential man-made threat — nuclear weapons.

While dealing with the surreal impact of the current COVID-19 health crisis, the nuclear arms race forges ahead, spiraling out of control, as the U.S. pushes to lead the way in building a nuclear arsenal whose sole purpose — if it ever were to be used — is threatening to end life as we know it on our planet. Climate change is the second human-caused existential threat and is also connected to the threat of recurring pandemics and nuclear war.

The COVID-19 pandemic demands that we reassess our priorities through the lens of caring for one another and our basic human needs addressing income, health and environmental inequities across the nation that are so apparent at this time.

As the planet warms, habitat for animals, bacteria, parasites and viruses change — bringing the health of animals, humans and the planet into a new reality. In addition, climate changes human migration and resource availability, causing conflict which — under the right circumstances — can lead ultimately to war. And, as Robert Dodge points out, we need to rethink how we spend our financial resources to address these interconnected issues.