1-2 Trillion... the cost of the war... what could have been done with the money instead ?

Question

Please no debate...

What would you have allocated the money otherwise to ?

Give figures and if possible calculations (e.G. miles of bridges built and so on...)

Till now, I am quite disappointed with the answers... some are even only political...

nobody wants to invest in scientific research ? what about paying the debt ? investing in a more efficient policy to stabilize conflict zones ? what about improved medical equipments ? What about ambitious urban planning ? large projects that would be a gift to future generations ?

Answer 1

That could have bought a heck of alot of health care. We could have fixed our infrastructure. We could have shored up our borders against terrorists instead of going where they weren't and bringing them there. We cound have funded our veterans facilities much better and given more to NPR and PBS instead of taking it away as we did from the little children who want to watch Sesame Street which helps them get a leg up on learning even before pre-school. We could have built stronger levees quickly and efficently so when the next big hurricane hits New Orleans the flooding will be minimal if at all. We could have used some of it as incentives to companies and individuals to develop safe, clean and inexpensive, renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. And finally, we could have spent a fraction of that amount in a hunt for Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. Cut the head off the serpent and it doesn't bite.

Amounts for each of these would depend on need and competitive bidding. No sweetheart (Haliburton) deals.

Answer 2

Best idea, don't spend it in the first place, it isn't like we had that money lying around and we were just waiting to find something to spend it on, we essentially have borrowed it from China.

Though if it was going to be spent I would allocate it to a Manhattan Project on alternative energy, not just research but development. I would also allocate larger tax credits for people driving very fuel efficient cars, instead of idiotically rewarding businesses for using monster SUV's.

Answer 3

End poverty worldwide.
Launch an effective global war on terror.
Provide healthcare for every American.
Overhaul the Social Security system.
Fund massive educational and vocational programs to eliminate welfare.
Create scholarships for anyone desiring a college education.
Initiate comprehensive programs to reduce the number of teenage pregnancies.

Answer 4

Actually, I would have spent more money to increase military pay and to put more money in OPTAR.

The miltary is one of the few areas where the Federal government has a legitimate role under the constitution.

All that feel good, useless crap the moonbats want to spent the defense budget on shouldn't even be under Federal control in the first place.

Answer 5

100 million - the cost of 1 nuclear device.

100 Billion - The fine to get the UN off our backs after detonating a nuclear device on foreign soil.

This leaves at least 900 Billion dollars to eliminate poverty in the US.

Answer 6

You are way off on your numbers. The last figures I saw on the war put the cost between $350 billion and $500 billion.

Answer 7

I could buy 1 trillion corn dogs, and then I could have six corn dogs a day for the next 450 million years.

Answer 8

It would have been waste on federal pork programs. Keep in mind that the money doesn't exist in the budget it all goes into debt.
The question is what would we do with the debt payments, as we will be paying for this war for years.

Answer 9

You could have bought all of the MLB and NBA teams, plus a condo in Hawaii., with enough left over to purchase a majority of the members of the US Congress.

Answer 10

*Healthcare-devise a plan so every American has free or affordable health insurance

New computers and books for schools,
Remodelling /upgrading or bulding new schools
Afterschool childcare programs
Education and work programs for unemployed persons