Cut nuclear weapons from the budget

I'm calling for an obvious part of the solution to the national budget crisis: cut the $600 billion of taxpayer money we'll waste on useless nuclear weapons this decade - weapons that make us less safe through risks of accident, miscalculation and the real possibility that terrorists will steal them.

This is the answer proposed by Global Zero, the international movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons. As a teacher of nearly 30 years, it's heartbreaking to see tuitions hiked, educational programs slashed and classrooms overcrowded, and then learn that the cost of one nuke could pay for 400 college scholarships. And we have more than 8,000 nukes.

The Cold War is decades behind us. If you must cut the budget, start with nukes. See www.globalzero.org for more information.

Rima K. Johnson

Belle Plaine