It's not secret that President Trump plans to build a wall on the US- Mexico border. It has become quite a controversial topic with many supporters and many who oppose the idea. There have been many estimates on how much a 1,000-mile, 50-foot-high wall would cost taxpayers. Some even say $13 to 14 billion and others say near $40 to 45 billion. No matter where you search for information, it is a very ambitious and costly project. For a large number of American's who oppose the idea, there is a dire need to understand why would we spend our money on a wall that seems to be an inefficient way to limit illegal immigrants. Why wouldn't we put our efforts and money into issues that will help the Americans who struggle every day?

1. Provide homes and life necessities for our 50,000 homeless veterans

This idea will obviously cost million, if not billions, of dollars. It would require a huge amount of resources from cities, especially those who have large populations of veterans living on the streets. Then there is the struggle of keeping them housed. In 2014, veterans accounted for 9.4% of the total homeless population. This is a gigantic decrease from 6.7% in 2009. As a nation, we have made great strides, but providing homes for those who secured our ability to rest peacefully in our own sounds like something we can successfully accomplish.

2. Subsidize preschool education for every American child

Communities grow and prosper when its citizens are educated. Providing a nationally funded pre-k program would have positive impacts on the children. Research conducted by Carolyn J. Hill, William T. Gromley Jr. and Shirley Adelstein show that participation in high-quality pre-K programs is associated with positive social-emotional outcomes, including character building, higher attentiveness, and stronger executive functioning skills. Not to mention the outrageous cost of child care programs throughout the nation.

3. Provide paid maternity leave for new parents

Both mom and dad deserve some relaxation after the stress of preparing for a new baby. There are many positive effects seen when new parents (or experienced parents with newborns) get to enjoy time off from work. This is something our nation's government should look into providing for its citizens.

4. Make public college education more affordable

The mountain that comes along with the college experience is almost impossible to overcome. The financial stress makes it difficult for many students to survive the four (or more) years it takes to get their degree. A large amount of government funding to decrease this cost would ease the financial stressors of obtaining a college degree.

5. Provide health insurance coverage for the 33 million Americans that still don't have access to affordable care

Many western countries provide affordable care for their citizens, so a simple doctors visit or yearly checkups don't break the bank. There are many Americans who skip annual doctors visits or other types preventative care simply because the costs are extremely high.