2 ms·

Hindsight is 20/20, so I am not looking to place blame when I ask - how much better off would we be if we put the money we spent on the "war on terror" to just

by 300bps 13y ago

Hindsight is 20/20, so I am not looking to place blame when I ask - how much better off would we be if we put the money we spent on the "war on terror" to just about any other use? There are some monumental things that can be done for a trillion dollars (see http://costofwar.com/ http://costofwar.com/ which doesn't even include the TSA or other homeland security operations).

jemka 13y ago
I don't think it has anything to do with hindsight. Even if you were, at one point, for spending every dime on the "war on terror" and now you are opposed, what does that mean? You're in the same exact place as you were. All worked up with yet another opinion. You're not a corporation with a lobbyist. You mean nothing. Terrorism prevention spending is an easier pill to swallow/get behind/comprehend/profit from/ compared to any other type of possible "thing" tax dollars can be spent on. The government needs to spend money on something. The economy depends on it. But what? People are obese. They have long lists of health problems and are plagued by the high cost of healthcare. But somehow the one thing that can help them directly (healthcare) alludes them. How is that such a difficult problem? But mention terrorist or the potential of an attack and people will usually get behind all kinds of different programs and spending. We'll fight these damn terrorists together. Hand in hand! For FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY. We might have to give up a few things. Want to read my emails? Eh, they're mostly just funny pictures of cats...so I guess that's fine. Oh you need money to fight terrorists? Here's a trillion dollars. If we get some cool gadgets out of it afterwards, then that's awesome! Just as long as it has a spill guard because you know I'll be sucking down some soda when I use it. Priorities...
joering2 13y ago
Cost of entire NASA program is pennies of the war cost... unfortunately there is more money to make at war, than at creating/maintaining peace and continuing humankind progress. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbIZU8cQWXc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbIZU8cQWXc
Zigurd 13y ago
In addition to the direct costs you have to add risk: At the same time war spending was peaking, the financial crisis strained the nation's ability to respond to the limit. I am amazed the economy survived and some would say it is still at risk from this strange variant of "guns and butter." Doing both at the same time strikes me as recklessness on a monumental scale.

by 300bps 13y ago

jemka 13y ago

I don't think it has anything to do with hindsight. Even if you were, at one point, for spending every dime on the "war on terror" and now you are opposed, what does that mean? You're in the same exact place as you were. All worked up with yet another opinion. You're not a corporation with a lobbyist. You mean nothing. Terrorism prevention spending is an easier pill to swallow/get behind/comprehend/profit from/ compared to any other type of possible "thing" tax dollars can be spent on. The government needs to spend money on something. The economy depends on it. But what? People are obese. They have long lists of health problems and are plagued by the high cost of healthcare. But somehow the one thing that can help them directly (healthcare) alludes them. How is that such a difficult problem? But mention terrorist or the potential of an attack and people will usually get behind all kinds of different programs and spending. We'll fight these damn terrorists together. Hand in hand! For FREEDOM and DEMOCRACY. We might have to give up a few things. Want to read my emails? Eh, they're mostly just funny pictures of cats...so I guess that's fine. Oh you need money to fight terrorists? Here's a trillion dollars. If we get some cool gadgets out of it afterwards, then that's awesome! Just as long as it has a spill guard because you know I'll be sucking down some soda when I use it. Priorities...

joering2 13y ago

Cost of entire NASA program is pennies of the war cost... unfortunately there is more money to make at war, than at creating/maintaining peace and continuing humankind progress. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbIZU8cQWXc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbIZU8cQWXc

Zigurd 13y ago

In addition to the direct costs you have to add risk: At the same time war spending was peaking, the financial crisis strained the nation's ability to respond to the limit. I am amazed the economy survived and some would say it is still at risk from this strange variant of "guns and butter." Doing both at the same time strikes me as recklessness on a monumental scale.