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Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 12/19/2006 - 7:51am.

Federal Budget Tradeoffs

Taxpayers in Washington will pay $8.6 billion for the cost of war in Iraq. For the same amount of money, the following could have been provided:

1,291,451 People with Health Care or
148,667 Elementary School Teachers or
952,057 Head Start Places for Children or
3,283,399 Children with Health Care or
47,424 Affordable Housing Units or
904 New Elementary Schools or
1,530,059 Scholarships for University Students or
149,118 Music and Arts Teachers or
164,832 Public Safety Officers or
7,646,531 Homes with Renewable Electricity or
116,507 Port Container Inspectors

Sarah's blog
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Again, we have to ask

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Tue, 12/19/2006 - 8:08am.

Again, we have to ask ourselves: how much can be made in Iraq?

I'm just as concerned with the growing pricetag of the conflict in Iraq as the next guy, which is exactly the reason we need to look at ways to make money in Iraq.

Making Money

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Tue, 12/19/2006 - 11:01am.

...we need to look at ways to make money in Iraq.

I think it is time to cut our losses. It's a well-known fact that the presence of the American Forces of Occupation are exacerbating and provoking the violent and deleterious situation in Iraq. It's well past time to leave!

What do you propose for ways to "make money?"

I think it is time to cut

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Tue, 12/19/2006 - 6:31pm.

I think it is time to cut our losses.

I agree with this, also.

But then we have to ask ourselves: is there a responsibility to stabilize (or at least attempt to) Iraq?

If we're going to leave we need to do it now. If we're going to stay, we need to look at ways to recoup as much of our investment as possible.

As far as ways to make money, we can easily turn our attention toward the vast amounts of petroleum and flat out keep any profit until it is equal to the amount of money spent in the country.

what!!

Submitted by hazzardus waste on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 2:09am.

are you saying we should take the oil to recoup the u.s.'s cost for killing people?
i think they are already stealing all the oil they can get their hands on any way.

are you saying we should

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 10:18am.

are you saying we should take the oil to recoup the u.s.'s cost for killing people?

It wouldn't be the first time this country has used the resources of a conquered people or nation to recoup "the U.S.'s cost for killing people."

If we're going to complain about the cost of Iraq (and trust me, I'm right there with you) we need to either:

1. Cut losses immediately

2. Examine how to recoup as much of our expenses as possible.

There are no two ways about it.

I still can't comprehend how the most powerful military force history has ever witnessed is being run out by a group of guerillas, but that's a long discussion that you missed a while back.

We Owe the People of Iraq

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 9:26pm.

I would like to state for the record that I am against taking oil from Iraq after what we have done to that country. We owe them so much more - in broken homes and families, loved ones lost and never to return - than we would ever be able to repay.

In the Course of Events

Fucking A right Rob..

Submitted by bubbaz (not verified) on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 10:05pm.

We should tax the Defense Contractors and Oil Companies to pay for rebuilding Iraq..

They make enough profit..

We should make them give some of it back..

What are they gonna do?

Make gas expensive or overcharge us for equipment?

eh..

Dick Cheney and George Bush

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 10:11pm.

Dick Cheney and George Bush really ought to be made to move to Iraq and live in the destruction they created. Once their, they can embark on an intensive program in restorative justice. They will work to restore what they have destroyed, while restoring their own places amongst the common family that is all of humanity.

Bush and Cheney are cyborgs..

Submitted by bubbaz (not verified) on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 10:19pm.

Bush and Cheney are cyborgs..

But then we have to ask

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 10:38pm.

But then we have to ask ourselves: is there a responsibility to stabilize (or at least attempt to) Iraq?

Then we have to ask, is it at all possible for the USA to stabilize Iraq? We have lost every shred of credibility for the vast majority of Iraqi people. We have lost credibility globally because of this. How can the USA regain credibility? By holding our "leaders" accountable. (leaders in quotes, because they are more like tyrannical, dictatorial, usurpers etc.)

Do you really think...

Submitted by The Fire Inside on Thu, 12/21/2006 - 9:47am.

The different factions on the ground in Iraq care whether we impeach President Bush? Hold a trial for former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld?

Here's what the people on the ground care about: water, electricity and largely, security. Provide the things which are necessary to function day-to-day and people don't give a shit how much accountability there is.

I think that those who

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Thu, 12/21/2006 - 11:38am.

I think that those who practice Islam do, generally, care about the specific actions and accountabilities of those in the Western structures of power. One bit of evidence to back this up are the riots that take place when Islam is badmouthed in Western Media, for example with the publishing of those cartoons in Scandinavia.

George Bush's rhetoric does serve to aggravate and antagonize, and in this case - specifically those who are effecting the majority of the violence in Iraq - the insurgency.

War Profiteers

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 12/19/2006 - 12:29pm.

Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers

Iraq for Sale web site

$$$ is being made in Iraq.

Plus since we are helping create and maintain an environment that is perfect for training terrorists, we might as well start charging them money for the education.

tax payers

Submitted by chuminator on Tue, 12/19/2006 - 11:47am.

there are a couple things wrong with your theory as is.

148,667 Elementary School Teachers---everytime they vote voters like you and me vote n
904 New Elementary Schools--- this is a state law if the school is not broke or is suffecint for the amount of childern attending no need for a new one
1,530,059 Scholarships for University Students-----------OMG there are over 1.5million dollars not being used that are set aside for scholarships people are to lazy to look.
149,118--supply and demand flat out
164,832 Public Safety Officers and to be a safety officer you have to have a good driving record, pass their physical test and written test.

and for the money we spend on this war. is the same amount for if we were not at war we are just noticing how much we spend for the military because we do not like this war.

Your quote: 164,832 Public

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 12:24pm.

Your quote: 164,832 Public Safety Officers and to be a safety officer you have to have a good driving record, pass their physical test and written test.

Washington State Patrol aside, there are many qualified candidates for police officer positions around the state who are still turned down due to not having the money to hire that many officers.

Wealth Distribution

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 9:11pm.

Did you know that the wealthiest 1% of Americans control 40% of financial wealth? (*As of 2001 - it's sure to be more severe now.)

Here's a great link I found: http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html

Pay and Wealth

Submitted by Robert Whitlock on Wed, 12/20/2006 - 9:29pm.

Here's an excerpt and link to an excellent article from the Kansas City Star by RICK MONTGOMERY regarding wealth and pay:

...
According to data recently prepared by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the bottom 90 percent of U.S. households saw an increase in real household income of 2 percent between 1990 and 2004. That’s adjusted for inflation.
Two. Percent. In 14 years.
Now creep up the income ladder to the top 1 percent of households. There, says the center’s Aviva Aron-Dine, real income shot up 57 percent in the same period.
Climb higher. For the top 0.1 percent — where incomes average about $4.5 million a year — the jump was 85 percent. For the top .01 percent, 112 percent.
“The increasing gulf between the rich and super rich is a reflection of the greater chasm throughout society,

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