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Missoula physician urges converting military spending to civilian jobs; says peace dividend won’t arrive automatically
Summary
Dr. Beth Thompson told the Montana After Hours radio program that Montana sends roughly $1 billion a year in federal military-related spending out of the state while Great Falls receives about $300 million back, and she urged active programs for economic conversion, retraining and cleanup to capture a so-called "peace dividend."
Dr. Beth Thompson, a physician of internal medicine in Missoula and a newly elected member of the national board of Physicians for Social Responsibility, told the Montana After Hours radio program that Montana sends about $1 billion a year in federal military-related spending out of the state while roughly $300 million is returned to the Great Falls community and that active steps are needed to convert military expenditures to civilian jobs and services.
Thompson defined the peace dividend as "the freed up money's and economic capability that comes from a reduction in the arms race," and cautioned that the money will not automatically flow into civilian uses. "There will not be a peace dividend unless we…
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