As the nation remembers the tragic bridge collapse of a year ago, I am gravely concerned that we have not yet reordered our national priorities away from weapons and war and toward the real security we expect from basic infrastructure.
The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that nearly 25 percent of bridges are structurally deficient, and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation says that just $140 million is needed to fix them. Meanwhile, we're spending $10 billion per month in Iraq.
As I strap my 18-month-old baby into his car seat every day, I hope and pray that our leaders will listen to the voice of the people and take us in a new direction.
AMANDA HENDLER-VOSS, ASHEVILLE, N.C.
