When I glanced at the Nov. 23 cover story in the Recorder headlined “Hunger skyrockets in region,” I expected it to be news about Gaza, where there is growing starvation and famine caused by the state of Israel’s blockade of aid, including food, into Gaza.

No, it was not about Gaza. Rather it was a story of shocking food insecurity among 41% of western Massachusetts households and 34% across the state and the safety nets of food banks and other humanistic people and programs. We are a country of record-breaking billionaires and millionaires. Our government has, by far, the largest military budget in the world and has spent more than $23 billion and counting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza over the past year.

Yet, 140 million Americans are poor and near poor, according to the Poor People’s Campaign.

We need a democracy of the people, by the people and for the people, not one controlled by profit-driven corporations selling weapons, health care, processed food, etc., and their lobbyists.

Traprock Center for Peace and Justice, Montague