A trillion dollars. That's the cost, so far, in economic terms of the combined debacles in Iraq & Afghanistan. And we can't balance the state budget. Do you know where your tax dollars go?  Do you want more money for education, health care, care for senior citizens?  Or are you happy with tax dollars being lost by the truckload in Iraq? Or given as foreign aid to other countries so they can turn around and buy military hardware from us? (Makes is seem like a 'jobs program' don't it?) Why doesn't our govenment give us back our own money so we can buy solar panels or electric cars?(Now that would be a real 'jobs program'.)

  And don't think this is all merely the federal government, happening elsewhere. Like it has no bearing or effect locally. Think again. Do you realize what we could do with our own money locally if it weren't siphoned off for political purposes? Be sure to notice I didn't say governing. There is a gap as wide as the rich-poor gap between governing and politics. They're not even in the same universe.