America’s greatness is revealed by volunteers
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
Editor,
In a letter to the editor on Jan. 19, Bob McClellan made the following statements: “Three trillion here, three trillion there, pretty soon we’re talking real money. The Iraq mistake cost us that first three trillion and Afghanistan is probably exceeding that.”
His figures are grossly inaccurate. The total defense spending by the United States for the last three years more closely approximates the following figures: 2008—$585 billion, 2009—$665 billion, 2010—$695 billion.
These amounts include all incremental and supplemental funding authorized by Congress and specifically allocated for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most defense experts concur that less than 20 percent of total defense spending is directly attributable to our activities in these two countries.
He also states, in the same letter, that “We can all look at ourselves and our motivations on things and, if we are honest, admit that a sort of greedy attitude is behind much of what we have done in the past and possibly still do.” I disagree with this statement.
For example, here in Polson we see many examples of generosity. A few of these projects are as follows: Polson Loaves and Fish Food Pantry, weekly fellowship dinners provided by local churches, the soup luncheons at JourneyBe, Helping Hands, DOVES, Salvation Army kettle drive, American Red Cross blood drive, animal rescue programs, and many other volunteer efforts.
These are all staffed by people who willingly give of their time, their money and their talent. I submit these individuals are not driven by greed and fear. Rather, they are motivated by a cause far greater than promoting their own self interests. They are looking to the welfare of their community and those less fortunate. Is greed a problem in America? Of course it is, but this is still a country and a community whose greatness is revealed in the giving nature of its people.
Jack Cummings
Polson
