How would you rather spend $12 Billion of taxpayers money?

Question

I month in Iraq or fixing 3200 bridges & highway overpasses in America.

(As you know, the Highway Fund keeps all the federal gasoline taxes destined to build and mantain Americas' highway system. Some federal money is appropiated, additionally, to help the state with state roads.)

Right now, the $12 Billion mentioned are being spend in Iraq and are being borrowed and added to the federal deficit.

Dear ggofthejungle: We don't drive in other countries.
Dear FREAKZILLA: As the question says, most of the money spent in highways and bridges is federal money.

Answer 1

One year ago this month 'American Prospect' magazine estimated the U.S. government had already spent 1.27 TRILLION on the Iraq war - a year ago!!!
That's ONE MILLION DOLLARS A DAY for 3,487 years!!!
Even if we're now only spending $12 billion a month (which is probably a flagrantly low government estimate that camouflages the 'real' number), there are certainly better ways we could spend $144 billion a year:
a) Provide financial assistance to all of America's elderly, disabled, underprivileged, sick, disadvantaged, uninsured, poor, hungry and homeless;
b) Use the technological genius we have to erect new levees, highways and bridges that will last for hundreds - or thousands - of years without constant repair and rework. It can be done; contractors simply don't want to bother with anything less profitable and lucrative;
c) Create a national health care system for all citizens who cannot afford their own medical care or health insurance;
d) Stabilize the Social Security program so that all those who find themselves destitute, at a poverty level, disabled, or in special need can collect far into the future (the rich don't need, don't deserve, and should get Social Security benefits);
e) Revamp our dismal education system so that children can learn at their own pace instead of being expected to follow federal or state guidelines;
f) Commission a scientific agenda to develop a 'slurry' made from human waste and garbage which will be resistant to corrosion, the elements, or damage and that can be used to rebuild all bridges, highways, levees, and dams;
g) Establish environmental guidelines to help stop global warming and increase awareness of the delicate ecological balance between all men, plants and animals so necessary to our basic survival;
h) Erect mini-Ellis Island-type 'immigration stations' where all those wishing to emigrate to America can enter legally; be processed with proper documentation; given work visas; and be told that they must learn the English language and register to vote within one year before they can legally apply for citizenship;
i) Buy out all the hospitals, utilities, pharmaceutical firms, and all other 'big businesses' so that they become non-profit organizations dedicated to serving the people instead of serving their shareholders;
j) Invest in a complete overhaul of the federal government, the voting and election processes, and the clean-up of government corruption at all levels.

We could do ALL this and still have money left over with which to balance the budget! -RKO- 08/04/07

Answer 2

I agree with the idiot Ahcho N that once the Federal government has stolen the $12B, it no longer belongs to the taxpayers. To expect accountability from a person or entity that would steal from you is pretty foolish.

I would however say that the original theft was wrong. Further, can you imagine how much money some people are going to make fixing bridges? Because the money was taken and not earned, what incentive do politicians and bureaucrats really have to manage bridge maintenance cost effectively? Heck, another fallen bridge or two will only justify seizing more money from taxpayers?

Have you considered allowing taxpayers to keep their money? Doubtless entrepreneurs would step in line to try to earn that money by building and maintaining roads and bridges. Those private businesses could be held responsible for incidents such as the MN tragedy. A business that experienced too many such incidents would soon be out of business and replaced by one that more effectively provided the service.

Answer 3

The problem is not just on a federal level. States and cities need to better appropriate their funds. Instead of building a new baseball stadium maybe they should have been fixing the old problems first.

Edit: To the poster below, I am not a republican, I just call a spade a spade. The county and the city are as much to blame in many cases as lack of federal dollars are. In my state we passed the lottery to put millions into the schools and roads including bridges. Virginia also has the lottery and some of the best roads and schools in the nation.

Answer 4

I would be happier if our Government would learn from the mistakes of the past (LBJ) and not tie the hands of the Military. Let it do it's damn job. I would be even happier if the Media would quit blowing the casualties info way out of proportion. Example if you add up the casualties from all combat activities including peace time friendly fire we still haven't lost as many people as we did in The Battle of the Bulge, in which 3 days of fighting with the NAZIS the US Army lost 80,000 men and we won the battle. 9/11 was like Pearl Harbor and we responded and our casualties were extreme against Japan but we stuck to it. Germany didn't instigate a war with us but what they were doing was so wrong we sacrificed millions to stop them. Technically America hasn't finished what it starts since the WW2. We have at least 3 generations of quitters in our recent past and our enemies know it. I guess Europe is lucky we didn't veiw the Second World War as unwinable. We haven't even mounted and effort that is on par with one Day during WW2. We are weak.

Answer 5

As per usual it's a darn good question, 12 Billion is heck of a lot of money, money taken disproportionately from the poor hard working folks in the USA to give the corporate representatives and their pals in office.

The highways system is yet another public utility that is falling apart due to lack of investment as the corporate elite bleed the nation of the USA dry.

The French knew how to deal with such aristocrats.

Answer 6

let me guess, you are blaming BUSH for the collapse, why stop their say there were blacks on the bridge and it was a direct attempt by us consv. to show that we are neo nazi's also. you stupid f u c k i n g idiot.


RKO... spoken as a true left wing liberal as could possibly be, and as far assaying all we can do with the money, if the country doesn't exist, who is going to spend this money???? grab you broke-back mountain copy and you gay lover and go to Iran or Afghanistan and start your own socialized government and let me know how that works for ya.

Answer 7

Invade Iran, North Korea, and Cuba. Allowing the people there to experience the freedom they have never had. And yes, i would be the first to volunteer for such a noble cause.

Answer 8

your question is irrelevant considering road maintenance is taken care of locally . But feel free to continue to blame Bush for everything

Answer 9

I'd rather spend US tax dollars on US citizens, not in Iraq and not on illegals.

PS, Freakzilla, roads are not taken care of locally, try checking your facts with your nearest DOT.

Answer 10

fixing the bridges, of course.
But don't worry, other countries' infrastructure totally sucks, the accident in Minneapolis last week was an isolated incident. Other countries don't even have highways.