1. United States
2. N.Y.
3. Letter

$900 billion is too much for the Department of Defense. We need the money to take care of people in the U.S., our many people who never get a shot at a decent life because we have substandard support for education, child care, health care, and elder care. In particular at a time when our foreign policy supports dictators, insults democracies, and nakedly violates the laws of war, it is time for a change in priorities and a reduction in defense spending. We can, of course, spend less, and still have the most powerful military in the world. I'll also say, as one Democrat to another, that public opinion is against more military excursions, and on the side of spending on social welfare. If the Democrats are to regain the trust of Americans, they could start by being the party of peace, which Americans perceive them not to be. And peace, of course, is a good thing.