SPENDING: Cheaper to fund peace

Imagine if you will, three jars of jellybeans. The first jar contains 860 jellybeans, representing the $860 billion allotted this year from the discretionary fund in the 2024 budget for the military.

The second jar, with 76 jelly beans, represents the $76 billion the United States is willing to spend on Diplomacy, Humanitarian aid and Development Assistance.

The third jar is a different story. The amount in that jar represents the amount spent on three different things: The Complex Crisis Fund works to diffuse conflict world wide; the Reconciliation Program works to bring people together to encourage dialogue; and the Atrocities Prevention Fund works to prevent war and violence against women and children. The amount asked for this year in the upcoming budget is one-thirteenth of a jelly bean. Yes, just 1/13th, and Congress is balking over those funds.

It is much cheaper to fund peace than it is to spend our national treasure on war and weapons of war. Please let Rep. Fulcher, Sen. Crapo and Sen. Risch know you would like them to support 1/13th of a jellybean for peace.

DONNA NORDSTROM

Hayden