The National Guard in Washington, D.C. is very expensive, about $1 million a day. Our taxes are paying for armed soldiers to walk around monuments and memorials just hanging out, picking up trash and raking leaves. Some of the projected costs are:

■ $7 million for catered meals in the first 10 weeks

■ $5 million for 18 weeks of laundry services

■ $5 million for a tent city

■ $600,000 for air conditioning rental

■ $500,000 for land mobile radios

The soldiers are away from their families and jobs. Why?

The Posse Comitatus Act prevents the president from using the military as a domestic police force. The National Guard by law is not allowed to arrest law breakers or detain immigrants who are here illegally.

There are lots of ways this money could be better spent.

Sue Mraz, Slippery Rock