The House of Representatives just voted 93-324, with 139 Democrats joining 185 Republicans in voting no to a mere 10% cut in the military budget. That’s right — only a 10% cut. Only 93 Democrats, including Rep. Payne, Rep. Pallone and Rep. Watson-Coleman voted “Yes” to make this very small cut in the $740 billion military budget.

I have long stopped making excuses for the Democratic Party. I have given up thinking that more pressure from the grassroots will move the Democratic Party into becoming more of a “peace party.” Let’s just face the truth. The Republicans and the Democrats are committed to war — even during a worldwide pandemic! If ever there was a time for the House of Representatives to stop and re-evaluate their commitment to the military-industrial complex, this was the time!

The country needs money for education, jobs creation, a universal basic income ($2000/month), single payer, improved and expanded Medicare 4 All (to protect those who have lost their health insurance when they lost their jobs), tuition-free college, elimination of student debt, elimination of the rents and mortgages due during the pandemic, strong measures to confront climate change (this can’t be accomplished without cutting back on U.S. military actions around the world) and so much more.

The Green Party is the only anti-war/peace party — and this recent vote proves the point once again.

Madelyn Hoffman is the Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate.