Work together to improve lives

The writer of the May 7 letter “Items Unavailable” complains that the state helps people wanting liquor, not people needing sanitizing supplies. However, liquor stores are run by the state. Target, Walmart, etc., are private, for-profit stores.

Sometimes, the government is more efficient.

The U.S. Postal Service gets a letter across the country in days for 55 cents, but our railroad system never recovered from decades of competing private companies. Germany, China and many other countries have very efficient state-run railroad systems.

Our military is well prepared to fight wars. We spent trillions of tax dollars devastating lives in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and more. We have nuclear weapons, drones, submarines and 800 military bases around the world to protect us from enemies. However, the current enemy, a tiny virus, started a war that caught us unprepared. Our weapons cannot deal with it, and our privately owned heath care system totally failed us.

Should we redirect our resources from weapons, which destroy lives, to making life better for all? Start with America first: A living wage, affordable housing and health care for all would get most Americans out of poverty.

We can work with countries around the world, instead of seeing an enemy in every corner. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres proposes a global cease-fire — yes! We can use the trillions saved not fighting destructive wars to make life better for all the world. As the most powerful, richest country, we need to be the first to redirect our resources. EDITH BELL

Oakland