National security pricey, bloated

Seventeen national security agencies. Really? Yes, really!

How is it possible for 17 agencies to have the same responsibility of protecting the American people with no duplication of charter or purpose? Do you think that no duplication and waste is possible?

What are the budgets of these 17 national security agencies? According to the Federation of American Scientists Intelligence Resource Program, the fiscal 2017 budget request for intelligence was updated to include a request of $54.6 billion for the National Intelligence Program and a request of $18.4 billion for the Military Intelligence Program for a total budget of $73 billion. The total for fiscal 2016 was $70.7 billion. And going up.

Do you feel safe? Drain the swamp.

Stephen Zwelling Lewis Center wrote “I implore all patriots to abstain from watching the Super Bowl … .” His contention is that protesting players “symbolically spit on our flag and country.”

I think football players who take a knee — and any others in this country who also peacefully protest injustice and inequality — are honoring what our flag and country have always stood for: the right to free speech and the right to speak truth to power. These principles are what the flag symbolizes; this is what our military fights for and defends.

I’m surprised that someone as familiar with the military as Acker appears to be has failed to grasp the fundamental truth that we do not pay fealty to a piece of cloth; our loyalty is to the ideals the cloth represents. If the country falls short of those ideals, peaceful protesting is the patriotic response.

If our country’s principles are being disrespected — and they are — the source of the disrespect is the current administration and those who still support it. As the president attempts to undermine and cast doubt on the very institutions designed to maintain a balance of power, we must defend and protect the First Amendment and the Constitution as a whole. Standing, kneeling or marching in the streets … those are actions for patriots.

Margo Bartlett Delaware