Peace and Nonviolence
As the debt and deficit debate continues, many are considering cutting Medicare, Social Security, and programs serving the elderly, the unemployed, women, families and children.
Peace: The Path to Prosperity
As a student of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela, I have long believed that peace is the true way for change. In recent years, this belief has been further validated through studies which examine the economics of peace. Countries which are more peaceful internally and with their neighbors are often wealthier nations.
I believe that generations have forgotten how effective peace and nonviolence can be as an ideology and as a tool. If we prevent acts of violence on our streets, in our schools, there is no need to incarcerate. If we prevent war, there is no need to cut education and social insurance programs to cover the costs.
Over the years, I have sponsored briefings examining the economic benefit of peace and looking at movements of nonviolent protests around the world. I also am a proud supporter of protecting the U.S. Institute of Peace which teaches conflict resolution around the world and is a key partner to the Departments of State and Defense.
In tribute to the unveiling of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial and Gandhi’s birthday, I reintroduced –
- The Gandhi-King Scholarly Exchange Initiative Act; and
- The Securing American Families by Educating and Training our Youth (SAFETY) through Nonviolence Act
This year, I also introduced the Cost of War Act, a bill that requires the Department of Defense and the Internal Revenue Service to calculate the cost of the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya to each American taxpayer.
As the debt and deficit debate continues, many are considering cutting Medicare, Social Security, and programs serving the elderly, the unemployed, women, families and children. I believe that before any drastic decisions are made, everyone must have an honest accounting for a budget.