A recent Tri-City Herald article and a letter to the editor hit me, and should hit others, right in the head.

The front page on Dec. 13 had an Associated Press article about the state of Washington trying to reduce the state's $1.4 billion deficit through a combination of cuts, fund transfers and delayed payments. (Delayed payments?) A letter to the editor in the same edition, "Gingrich and immigration," by Christine Hayes of West Richland, mentions the the website www.numbersusa.com's assertion that the cost to our state each year for services to people here illegally is $1.5 billion. Bam! It hit!

When will the state, in particular, and politicians, in general, wake up and learn to add two plus two and come up with four? Ms. Hayes also notes that the website estimates California pays out $21.4 billion, New York $9.4 billion and Texas $8.88 billion for services. Is it any wonder those states are beyond being broke?

The country is being invaded without a shot being fired, and the states are hard pressed to defend themselves without the federal government.

I am sincerely worried about the future of our country and feel sorry for the generations following us.

Jack Robinson, Kennewick