As someone who protested the war from before it began, I sincerely thank Joe Biden for ending it. As chaotic as the early days of the withdrawal were, he still succeeded in getting thousands of people out of Afghanistan safely and ending our $300 million-per-day futile war there.

After 20 years of this unsuccessful war, and after 15 years of Vietnam, what will it take to convince us that war is not the answer? In addition to our military might not being the slightest bit effective, we continue to act as though we need to be safe while our country crumbles from within.

Since the ’60s, when LBJ had to sacrifice his War on Poverty to improve conditions here at home to pay for our first endless war in Vietnam, have we been better off as a nation? Do we have safe roads and bridges, superior public schools and universal literacy, health care and homes for the millions of people who are sleeping on the streets or in homeless shelters, or security from domestic terrorists?

We do not, but we still believe our money is better spent on weapons of mass destruction and on funding a military-industrial complex.
Additionally, the military’s enormous carbon footprint has contributed to the climate changes responsible for the cataclysmic fires, floods, and droughts we are experiencing.

It’s time to rethink how we make this country safe and secure. It would include passing legislation that will make us stronger from within including support for working families and families with low incomes. To pay for that, we can reduce the military’s carbon footprint reducing military spending, and implement a fairer tax system.

We can do this but not without people making their voices heard in Washington. Call or write today.

 

Karen Heck

Waterville

Copy the Story Link