Today, perhaps more than ever, military personnel and politicians alike need to hear the perspectives of everyday Americans on national security and military issues. I’m not referring just to your views on the Iraq war, but also on broader security issues and military spending. Here’s the reason. America’s security is facing serious challenges, not only on the battlefields of Iraq, but on the budget sheets in Washington, D. C. With record budget deficits, our country cannot afford to ignore basic fiscal questions: How do we divide scarce federal resources between the military and other programs that play a huge role in the security of our nation, such as funding for renewable energy for example?