It will take more than 'luck' to save this planet

In the last five years Americans have faced some of the biggest challenges in the history of this nation and in many ways these events have reached a point where this country has become almost split apart. Now is the time for us to come together.

I always registered as an independent, but when a game show host was elected president, then voted out of office and still claims he should have won and tries to split America apart I am in shock. Next we have the virus which soon will have claimed one million American lives, and caused millions of jobs and many businesses to close permanently. We also have our poorly planned departure from Afghanistan to upset us.

Drug companies have 1,500 lobbyists and spend $300 million to keep costs up. One in four Americans can't afford prescription drugs which cost 10 times more in this country than in Canada or Europe. Their CEOs get great bonuses.

And now we have the invasion of Ukraine and the thought of a crazed leader in Russia who may resort to chemical warfare or worse. The year 2022 has so far been the worst of my life.

We also have 50 Republican senators who cannot come together to offer Americans free dental and eye care. We may be spending billions on bridge repair, but where was the money when my upper teeth went bad and I had to clean my savings of $8,000 cash to get upper dentals?  (The VA doesn't cover dental work.)

I pray this nation can come together. And I hope someday there will be peace on this planet.

(By the way, one month ago my wife had a "mild stroke." All the doctors said, "She is very lucky. It could have been much worse.") I believe it will take more than "luck" to save this planet.

JAMES RICHARD JOHNSON

Clark Fork