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I just finished watching the evening news tonight and saw President Trump viewing some samples of contractors’ presentations of their model for the great Mexican wall.

It was mentioned that the cost of the wall would now be closer to $21.6 billion, rather than the initial estimate of “only” $12 billion. Also, several of the examples were already showing signs of rust. If we would need to get some steel from China, would we still charge them the new suggested import fee of 25 percent? I like their wall!

I was drafted (somehow most of my friends never were) and spent two years serving my country including 1968-1969 in Vietnam, and love my country. But I can’t help but wonder if it were put to a vote, how would most citizens respond to this: spend $21 billion (or more) on a wall, or give free medical services to everyone in this country for the next 20 years (like in Canada and Mexico) with the possible inclusion of dental care?

Obviously this amount of money would have to be invested and placed in a program similar to Social Security or Medicare, but I think the average reader would get my point.

Everyone I know in this country is so nice and generous; I wish the rest of the world would also recognize us the same way. I think we all would like to be respected as citizens of a great nation when we travel. We deserve it. God bless all who have served this nation and all of us who love our country.

JAMES JOHNSON

Clark Fork