To the editor:

The items listed below, by percentage, are how “We” the Government spends some of the discretionary money of We the People:

– Defense/international security: 19 percent

– Transportation infrastructure: 3 percent

– Science and medical research: 2 percent

– Education: 1 percent – (numbers are from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)

Instead of a Penny Plan, perhaps a thought: We could do with one less airplane.

Bob Gates, former secretary of defense, recommended cuts in the defense budget – and we have not yet done that.

Joan Patterson

Lehigh Acres