Now that we have spent $820 million to see if there is water on Mars, what about Medicare and Social Security for those of us on Earth? Who really gives a rat’s ear about things that don’t really affect us? Maybe I’m not on the right page.

Since I’m in such a surly mood, I see that the terrorists have us jumping to their tune, again. They want us to spend so much on extra security at airports, but I don’t think that’s where they will hit. They could do much more harm to our dams, bridges and power plants if they really want to cripple us. Watch the coasts too. Three miles out can do a lot of devastation from submarines.

It sure seems that we need to help our own people to what was promised so long ago before we rebuild a country and get deeper in debt.

And I know the space program is important and helping others is, too, but we are Americans and deserve to get what we worked so hard for.

Barbara Berquist, Rumford