I did a simple Google search on the current approximate costs of the Artemis II mission to the moon and the “war” with Iran. The cost so far for Artemis II is $93 billion, with additional costs in the billions expected as that program expands. The war with Iran (approximate cost to date) has been $25 billion to $35 billion and running, with no clear end in sight.

I read various news articles from many journalism outlets, local and national. I look around my community and state and see that, besides myself, people are suffering financially to make ends meet, pay bills, put food on the table, and/or find a job to do any of those things. There are people on the street, families can’t afford health care and have trouble affording groceries. Even our state is closing schools, releasing teachers and deferring maintenance on infrastructure. Even RFK Jr., our secretary of health, is suggesting we buy the “cheaper cuts of meat.”

I guess what I’d like to know is this: why? Why do we need this $93 billion moon mission expense? Why are we at war spending billions open-ended? And why don’t our elected officials actually do something to help use some, if not all, of those wasted billions to help the people of this country who are here now and hurting?

Rhetorical questions, I know, but someday someone is going to have to answer them. And it’s my sincerest hope that people and the news media keep asking until someone does and something changes.

— Vincent Volpe Sr., Sutton

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