if you don't like paying for welfare, then why do you support the war in iraq?

Question

Ok, so i constantly hear conservatives whine about taxes and how they'd be better off if they got to keep their money instead of supporting welfare or whatever(not to mention roads, and all the common infrastructure we all benefit from everyday), but we just bought iraq with our tax dollars. Just think of it like all of iraq is on welfare and your tax dollars are paying for it. Just because Bush says its ok people don't even think about it. ITS COSTING US, THE TAXPAYERS, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS!! wouldnt you have rather kept all that money at home developing our infrastructure, or in your pocket? think about it...

source: wikipedia

cost of iraq war to taxpayers $288,692,000,000 and counting(combined total since start of war i believe)

cost of welfare to taxpayers: $900,000,000 in state and federal funds(yearly)

the war is costing us roughly 300 times the yearly cost of welfare. our country is only 230 yrs old and we havn't had welfare for even 1/3 of that time. Welfare helps americans in need. I'm not trying to promote welfare, though i do think its a good idea, but if your going to complain about wasted tax dollars then you cant rationally support the war. this research took me maybee 10 minutes, try it yourself. Think independently and decide if nearly 300 billion dollars of our money is worth starting a civil war in iraq.

welfare money gets spent in american businesses

iraq war money either stays in iraq or goes to halliburton and other big corps.

Answer 1

Hi Again Reuben,

First let me just say it's great that you are helping to keep important issues in public view. I happen to be very liberal and believe that the war in the Middle East is wrong, but I also SUPPORT the "War in Iraq."

Let me tell you why.... War, despite the fact that people die and suffer from it, is good for us as Americans. Especially a war in Iraq. Spending billions fighting an unjustified war in Iraq is like giving our economy a major dose of steroids. Military spending supports key industrial sectors of our economy which happens to be struggling since 2001.

For every bomb we make a steel company profits. For every aircraft we build an American aircraft company gets a subsidy in the form of a production contract. For ever Iraqi we kill we are one step closer to ensuring that Iraqi oil will reach American shores.

I for one am happy living a very affluent life in Los Angeles. The way I see it, welfare is abused. I've met neighbors in my neighborhood who live in million dollar homes abuse the welfare system. Why should my tax dollars go to a cause that is just but corrupt? Why not just support a war that will boost our economy? Why not send someone else's kids to die so I can save some money on gasoline?

I am a business owner and I can say that my shipping firm has benefited from the war. Hell, I've even been awarded military contracts to the Mid East. With the satire aside, I do honestly believe the war is wrong. But I am only one person and my vote didn't make a difference in 2000 or 2004, so I guess I might as well profit from whatever Bush dishes out.

Answer 2

Handouts are not helpful...they only promote and prolong the problem of dependence upon the taxpayer. Conservatives want to help the poor by creating jobs not creating dependents.
Just as creating businesses (jobs)...the war in Iraq is a large upfront investment for a future of security and stability in the world rather than a future quagmire had the investment not been made.

Answer 3

The two things are distinctly different & conservatives are consistent in their beliefs on each.

So far as welfare, it enslaves people in a culture of failure in exchange for their votes, when they should be working the jobs illegals are coming here to take. It saps the American Spirit of self-reliance, personal responsibility, & pride that once made us great, but that are now on the decline. It should exist, but it should be a program that only goes 18-24 months & includes mandatory job training & placement (w/child care if needed).

The War IS temporary & DOES teach them to fish (create democracy) rather than being a handout. Further, you have to see the big picture on our war on terror. You can never defeat an Idea; you can only change the people listening to it. Killing Bin Laden is great for revenge, but does nothing to eliminate extremist Islam that inspires terror. Unfortunately, many middle easterners are ignorant of what true democracy & freedom are. When they reach that epiphany, they'll inspire exponential reform & renaissance in their culture, and that does kill the cult of extremism that attacks us. That means the money we’re spending there is for our benefit, and just happens to be good for them as a bonus.

Answer 4

No, actually I don't like paying for welfare, and no I don't mind supporting the war in Iraq. You are a little confused, we "conservatives" don't mind being taxed for our common infrastructure. This is not President Bush's war, liberals in the house and senate voted to go to war, though after watching them you'd never guess it. Do you like your tax dollars going to pay welfare? How about to pay for abortions? We all pay taxes that pay for things we don't necessarily agree with, it's life, it's part of being a grown up.

Answer 5

I have no problem with my tax dollars going to welfare. In fact I support welfare. The only problem that I have with the system are the people that abuse the system. People that have the ability to perform a job, those that are unable should be helped.

Answer 6

The Constitution grants certain powers to the federal government. One of them is the authority to have a military and fight to defend the country. Without getting into the rightness or wrongness of teh war itself, it still falls into that category. Welfare is NOT a specific power granted to the feds. The Preamble speaks of PROMOTING the general welfare, NOT "providing" it.

Answer 7

Educate the people on welfare get them in the workforce paying taxes and we can fund the war even more!

Answer 8

If they could separate my taxes and make wefare taxes and Iraq war taxes separate, I'd keep the welfare tax and pay double the Iraq war tax! How's that?

Answer 9

My problem with welfare is that too many people that receive it do not actually need it. I do not want my hard earned money going to people that are just too lazy to get off of their own butts and make their own money!!

Answer 10

us buying iraq and crap will help us with setting up its governement and stuff. if we never did that, we'd still be in a lot of doo doo with terrorist and stuff, so, it will all work out. after all, the president doesnt acctually make the final desicion on these things, it has to be passed through the congress and crap, so everyone who runs our government thought it was best, so if we have to pay for it, then so be it. you have to trust your government, cause we dont know everything.....