U.S. Assistance for Soviet Union

Two interesting articles side by side: “Been Down So Long Jail Looked Like Up to Him” and “U.S. Approves $1.5 Billion in Soviet Food Aid” (Nov. 21).

A man robs a bank in San Diego. His reasons: get fed and stay warm and dry. Unemployment checks stopped coming. He was living on the streets, pushing a shopping cart and digging through dumpsters. The Russian aid package involves $1.25 billion in a federally backed loan and $165 million in direct grants for food assistance.

Our bridges are falling down. Schools are sick. Health care is in crisis. Housing is not affordable. People are going hungry. The government is in hock. There’s no money for anything in the U.S. but we give unlimited sums of money to Russia, Israel, Turkey, Greece, Timbuktu, etc. Doesn’t seem fair. Does it?

BYRON E. DILLON, Downey