The school budget for SAD 74 is $800,000 in the red. The state budget is being slashed by millions. In both cases, the cuts to balance the reduced budgets will reduce the structures necessary to educate and care for the physical well-being of our citizens.

As the headlines announce yet another scam by British and American contractors to steal and hide billions in cash from Afghanistan, and the war there continues to the tune of $230,000 per minute, we are expected to quietly watch our civil society spiral down the drain.

We are told by our school boards, governor and legislators that our problems are all because of mistakes and problems that occur within our state border. This is untrue.

The constantly expanding military budget that now accounts for 57 percent of federal disposable spending (not including the 6 percent for veterans) is draining away the money needed to fund the programs that are crucial to real national security.

Education, infrastructure, health care, food and shelter are necessary to have an educated, healthy and physically secure population. With those we can make wise choices for our economy, be adaptable to change and compete with the world in innovation and new technologies.

Endless occupation of other countries, without any exit plans, is a disaster for our country. The corporate defense contractors and the politicians whose war chests are filled by them at every election are bankrupting us. The mental and physical damage to veterans is incalculable.

A rally will be held Tuesday at the State House Hall of Flags where participants will demand that our state leaders speak out to bring our war dollars home.

Mark Roman

Solon