[Andrea]

I confess my heart is heavy for the people of Milwaukee.

I confess my heart was, and is, heavy for the people of Colorado.

I confess my heart is heavy for a friend battling breast cancer.

I confess my heart is heavy for those families that have lost someone due to another person driving under the influence.

I confess so much loss from mental illness, cancer and DUIs, and yet our government spends billions on fighting terrorism at our airports, train stations, and bus stations.

I confess some facts to chew on:
Deaths from terrorism since 9/11 (10 years) - 3033
Deaths from breast cancer in 2011 - 39,520 (est)
Deaths from DUIs in 2010 - 32,885
Deaths from homicide in 2011 - 16,799

I confess that is 89,204 deaths in one year compared to 3,033 over 10 years.

I confess this doesn't include death by other cancers, working in unsafe conditions, starvation, lack of medical treatment for treatable illnesses, etc.

I confess 2012 TSA budget: $7.85 Billion

I confess no death should be taken lightly and it is not my intent to say we shouldn't always remember the tragedy of 9/11.

I confess what we, the goverment, are spending our tax dollars on doesn't work for me.

I confess putting away my soapbox now.