Whether we accept it or not, our country has embarked on a war of choice on Iraq that is costing us dearly at home as well as abroad. Every day the Bush regime is wasting $275 million on a seemingly endless religious civil war that most thoughtful people believe cannot be won. The taxpayers’ estimated tab for the war is now averaging $4,100 for every household in the United States.

To date Congress has appropriated almost a half a trillion dollars for the war on Iraq. The cost to Washington taxpayers is $10.35 billion and for taxpayers in the Second Congressional District, $1.13 billion dollars of revenue has been lost to the community.

The money being spent in Iraq could have been used to improve the lives of Americans. Currently, 47 million people lack health insurance, our borders are insecure, education is under funded, and our bridges and roads lack needed repairs.

In the Second Congressional District alone, the money sent to Iraq could have provided our residents with such tangible improvements as: health care coverage for 169,656 people; 201,002 college scholarships; renewable electricity for 1,004,513 homes; or 6,230 affordable housing units.

With the costs of the war estimated to eventually double, we cannot afford to meet the needs of our citizens. It is time to put America first and demand that our elected representatives put our tax dollars where they are needed most — in our own backyards.

Marshall F. Goldberg

Oak Harbor