http://www.ourfuture.org/makingsense
George Bush, John McCain, and their conservative allies believe that the Iraq war has been worth the cost. About two-thirds of Americans disagree, according to a recent poll. Apparently, conservatives don't understand "opportunity cost"—the basic economic concept that when you choose to buy one thing, you can't use that money to buy something else.
The cost of Iraq in lives lost and scarred is incalculable. It has also had staggering economic costs here at home.
* So far, the federal government has authorized $656 billion for the Iraq war. Of that total, $152 billion was appropriated to fund the Iraq war during the current fiscal year. That amounts to more than $12 billion per month and $416 million per day.
* With $656 billion we could have: Brought to "good condition" all of America's deteriorating public structures—bridges and roads, airports and railroads, schools and parks, water and sewer systems; or paid for a college education for every high school graduate over the next decade; or eliminated hunger worldwide.
* With $152 billion we could have: Provided high-quality health insurance coverage for the 47 million men, women, and children who are uninsured; or paid the cost of Social Security benefits for three years; or invested 300 times more money than is currently allocated to research and develop renewable energy technology.
* With $12 billion we could have: Covered the 4 million children who were denied health insurance coverage when President Bush vetoed SCHIP funding; or tripled the budget for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute; or carried out all 9/11 Commission recommendations.
For sources and more, see http://www.ourfuture.org/makingsense
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