On Saturday May 14, the Progressive State Committee passed a resolution opposing the installation of the F-35 fighter jets at the Vermont Air National Guard Base in South Burlington. The resolution was passed unanimously and reflects our bylaws which read “military expenditures must be weighed in the context of domestic priorities.” The proposal calls for installation of 18-24 planes, each projected to cost $135 million. The total program is expected to cost $329 billion. The resolution requested F-35s be canceled and the money be used to support health care, education, jobs, roads, bridges, the environment, and human services.

The resolution also says, “the health, safety, and quality of life of Vermonters will be harmed by these fighter jets.” The noise produced by F-35s is projected to be 2 - 4 times as loud as the F-16 s they are replacing. In Tucson, where they are also planning on installing F-35s, they have been recorded at 104 decibels (85-90 decibels can cause permanent ear damage). Excessive noise has been linked to cognitive impairment in children, sleep disorder issues, will cause undue stress on anyone suffering from PTSD, and renders conversation impossible when they are operating. The base in South Burlington will have these jets flying over an elementary school and will make education impossible when they are operating.

Noise isn’t linked only to physical and psychological impairments; it is directly linked to property value. Dr. Timothy Hogan, from the University of Arizona says, “The impact of aircraft noise on property values is a well-researched and documented issue.” His extensive research shows a 20-decibel increase would imply losses in value in the 12 -22 percent range, a loss of $9,000 to $33,000 for a $150,000 home. Due to the significantly increased noise level of the F-35s, the radius of homes affected by this would be quite large. This will mean people in that area can’t sell their homes and will be forced to remain in an unhealthy environment. In addition almost 100 homes are being purchased and destroyed as part of an airport expansion project. This is resulting in a significant loss of revenue to South Burlington and surrounding communities.

The environment won’t be damaged due only to noise and expansion of the airport, these planes run on benzene and their fumes will pollute our air and can have negative health effects on all in this area. At a presentation on the F-35s in South Burlington we were told one of the reasons this location was picked is because our air quality was good enough to handle this added pollution. Benzene is an extremely toxic chemical, a carcinogen and a developmental and reproductive toxin. Is this what we want in our air and in the air over an elementary school? Does Lake Champlain need more chemicals floating into it?

I hope you will join me in contacting our congressional delegates and asking them not to support the expansion of F-35s. Even U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has expressed opposition to standing military assets such as “juggernaut flotillas and additional F-22, F-35 and C-17 production,” noting we need increased technology and information-gathering systems instead.

Meg Brook is a frequent contributor to the Vermont Progressive Party’s Website. Visit www.progressiveparty.org for more information.