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Nuclear Weapons

In: Social Issues

Submitted By csturgell
Words 918
Pages 4
24 March 2013
English 105
Abolition of Weapons of Mass Destruction Leading to the instantaneous deaths of over 140,000 people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, nuclear weapons are the most dangerous and unnecessary hazard for not only the United States, but all nations around the world (Cimbala 51). Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) including nuclear weapons, were deemed “totally irrational, totally inhumane, good for nothing but killing, [and] possibly leading to the destruction of life on Earth and civilization” by Ronald Reagan at the formation of the nuclear age (Shultz 2). Nuclear weapons cost the United States enormous amounts of money every year, result in the proliferation of nuclear weapons to other nations, concentrate power undemocratically and risk nuclear accidents; therefore, should be utterly eliminated. United States spending not only includes the manufacture of weapons, but also upkeep of the weapons, compensation for the fallout when testing the weapons, compensation to citizens with radiation exposure, emergency locations for citizens, recovery and waste disposal efforts, and defense spending. According to the Brookings Nuclear Weapons Cost Study Project the United States disbursed an estimated $35.1 billion on all U.S. nuclear weapons and weapon related programs (Schwartz 7). $14 billion is set aside to maintain and house the nearly 20,000 nuclear weapons across the United States (Kimbrell 1). If these weapons were eliminated billions of dollars could be put towards essential programs that will more likely benefit America, such as education programs or programs with the goal of paying off the United State’s national debt. Accompanied with a copious spending, the United States’ failure to act to eliminate their nuclear arsenals will likely result in the proliferation of nuclear weapons to other nations. The U.S. cannot expect foreign

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