Money Not So Well Spent
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
I am always amazed at how we, the United States, can find money to pay for reconstruction of another country when we have our own major issues.
Today Congress gave final approval to an $87.5 billion package for U.S. military operations and aid in Iraq and Afghanistan. $18.6 billion of that is for the reconstruction of Iraq. This is not a loan, it is a grant. This is money we will never see again. Iraq owes money to France and Germany; this money may be used to pay off existing debt to them ?
What could $18.6 billion dollars buy in the United States?
2,629,718 additional children could attend a year of Head Start
7,972,567 additional children could be provided with a year of health care
354,285 additional teachers could be hired for one year
If you look at the cost of the whole war these numbers get even bigger. Take a look at The Cost of War to get a better idea.
posted in: Political