Is the war a distraction from the economy?

Question

Is the Iraq war changing our focus from the economy?

Answer 1

The big problem I have with this war and the economy is the Defecit we have built up from this war. In order to finance our current overspending, we sell bonds. China currently holds about $1 trillion of these bonds. Our payments on it are close to $75 billion per year. Their Military budget is about $150 billion, so by this overspending due to the war in Iraq, we are paying for half of China's military build up and run the risk of helping to create our next big enemy.

Answer 2

The war IS the economy. The only people making money are the corrupt politicians sucking down lobbiest dollars, the people working their flim-flam (derivatives and the like) in the financial markets, and war profiteers (oil companies, Haliburton, et al). However you won't read the truth about what is really happening till all the fat cats are safely off the ship. The worse thing those in power want is for the great unwashed to know the true state of affairs. It would be like standing in the middle of a cattle stampede as people started looking for the exit doors. Heck, even Lou Dobbs has reported repeatedly on things like the government keeps two sets of books, hides the real impact of deficit spending by having off item accounts and deferred accounting, and that the government doesn't even count people as being unemployed once they drop out of the system. Did you know that a $80,000 year software engineer that had her job shipped overseas and is now working at MacDonalds for $16,000 is counted as fully employed? How about all those sub-prime loans and the closing auto, garment, textile, and other manufacturing plants (meanwhile the Ford CEO gets what 43 million dollars for 4 months "work") More people are moving due to foreclosures and loss of jobs than anyone knows about. As the great Oz once said..."Do not look behind the curtain".

Answer 3

Imagine if the HUNDREDS of BILLIONS of DOLLARS that George W. Bush has squandered on an unconstitutional and illegal 'war' had been spent for other things, such as:
a) Rebuilding America's crumbling infrastructures
b) Helping to save the planet from global warming
c) Cleaning up our air and water pollution
d) Feeding millions of Americans who go to bed hungry
e) Renovating our public schools and education system
f) Introducing community-wide recycling programs
g) Developing alternative fuels with fewer emissions
h) Creating financial aid for poverty-stricken families
i) Establishing a national health care system
j) Providing aid for devastated families in Darfur
k) Finding cures for AIDS, cancer, diabetes, and stroke
l) Assisting the 'working poor' with housing
m) Spearheading world-wide peace initiatives
n) Indicting corrupt politicians and business leaders
o) Enforcing environmental laws
p) Building levees to protect against hurricanes and floods
q) Repairing highways and bridges
r) Researching alternative fuel methods
s) Providing every newborn child with education annuities
t) Eliminating air pollution from factories and vehicles
u) Promoting healthier diets and exercise for children
v) Preserving our natural resources, forests and parks
w) Protecting our precious wildlife and animal habitats
x) Breaking down giant corporate monopolies
y) Savings rainforests, elephants and other rare species
z) Eliminating America's addition to oil
This world would be a lot better place - and might actually survive more than just another generation or two....AND there would be billions left to help pay down the national debt!
War is a terrible distraction from the economy, from society, and from our culture. -RKO- 04/08/07

Answer 4

No, the economy has been doing remarkably well; especially considering the effects of 9/11 and Katrina.

Answer 5

Well spoken RKO. Actually the economy is so shot because of the war.

Answer 6

no it is to aid it.