The Weird and The Wacky Meet

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$87 Billion Buys More Than US Can Afford

On September 10, President Bush unveiled his $87 billion plan to finish funding operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Let’s take a moment and analyze exactly how much money $87 billion is.  Tuition for two years at HCC is $4,800.  With $87 billion, we could give 18,125,000 students an associate’s degree, and a fine education.  Or think about what would happen if we gave every state in the nation $1 billion to fix their education systems.  Imagine what Bridgeport’s flailing public school system could do with its share of a billion dollar pie.  And on top of that, we’d still be saving $37 billion.

                 I know what you’re thinking.  You’re thinking; “We need that money to continue the fight against terrorism and ensure Iraqi freedom.”  But hasn’t Congress already approved $62.6 billion in emergency funds for operation Iraqi Freedom?  Where did that money go?  Expense reports will not be available for months.  This is on top of the $379 billion budget the Department of Defense already has, with $10 Billion already earmarked for battling terrorism.

                 What about rebuilding Iraq?  Don’t we owe the Iraqi people something after we tore into their country?  I would argue that we probably do.  However, only $20.3 billion of the $87 billion will go to rebuilding and restructuring efforts.  Most of this money will be going to American private contractors, further sinking the Iraqi economy, and not allowing the growth that the country is going to need to recover.  So, essentially, we’re paying American corporations with our tax dollars to rebuild a country that we destroyed, while excluding Iraqis from forming their own companies and gaining important financial footing for recovery.

                 So, we could ask other countries for their financial assistance in rebuilding Iraq, right?  Wrong.  On September 23rd, President Bush went before the United Nations to tell the world that they could step in and help with the work the U.S. is doing with Iraq, but that they could not have any say in how the funds they contribute could be used.  Bush appealed to his favorite fallacy of “you’re either with me, or you’re a terrorist.”  This rhetoric might have held sway immediately after September 11, 2001, but we’ve lost all good will by being stupid about our vengeance.

                 Right now, our country is going through a fiscal crisis.  The national debt is at a record high of over $400 billion.  Because the Department of Defense has such a high budget, and is the only department of government to have a significant increase, 33% in funds since 2000, you can see that this debt is artificial.  If the DOD took a 20% cut in funds, the debt would disappear in less than six years. If our president wants a gargantuan military complex, let him pay for it by keeping taxes at a reasonable level.  Don’t repeal the estate tax, don’t offer tax breaks for the rich. 

                 We have domestic crises at home that need desperate attention.  Unemployment, health care, welfare, and education problems can all be solved if we pay attention when the government does the math.  It doesn’t take a genius to see that we are spending too much on the military.

                 Frankly, I’m angry at the way my dollars are being spent.  And you should be too.  If you want to do something about, call up Christopher Dodd or Joseph Lieberman’s office and tell them what you want.  Go to http://www.house.gov/writerep/ and find out who represents you in Congress.  Sign a petition.  But most importantly, register to vote, because to have a country that represents your interests, you have to fight for it.

Copyright 2003

Not the original graphic

By Amanda Evans

Original Publishing Date: 10/16/03