The passing of South Dakota Sen. George McGovern, the Democratic Party losing presidential candidate in 1972, reminded me that he was ahead of his time.
McGovern's platform included ending the Vietnam War (saving lives by bringing the troops home sooner rather than later) and spending the billions wasted on the war in rebuilding America.
McGovern was too proud to emphasize his military experience as a decorated World War II bomber pilot against incumbent President Richard Nixon, who attempted to portray him as soft on national defense.
Fast forward to today and consider the expenditure of more than a trillion dollars between our Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Was it worth spending the dollars and lives for what we have gotten in return?
LARRY PENNER
Great Neck