One Hundred Fifty Billion Dollars

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

Um.. what is the biggest problem then?

Commie philosophy professors.

Who as a rule do not preach their political beliefs to their students.

Incidentally, we've had a few visiting US profs here recently to give talks. Only one could be described as a commie (another was from Texas). Yet all wished death on Bush.

[DanS]

So was the WPA. Is this the Neo-Deal? Tax and spend to create work, but invade a bananaland first?

Not a primary reason, for sure. More of a mitigating factor. This is a particular kind of charity.

then again, it wasn't much of a war.

It was a much hotter war than we've had for an long time. Hotter than Gulf War I. Despite this, so far it has cost less as a percentage of the economy than all of the hot wars that this country has been involved in.

What new systems are being acquired and deployed as a result of this procurement activity?

Rummie has broad discretion over at least $10 billion in the supplemental. It gives the military places to try things out, such as UAVs. Lastly, it helps refocus our resources to important things like intelligence and Arabic language skills.

We're spending money, time, and actual lives now on an open ended basis.

While open ended, we can be reasonably sure that there will be an end. Under the previous regime, we could be reasonably sure that there was no end in sight.

If most of it is military, and most of it is operational, how is it non-recurring. Or is it a collective 87 billion dollar wound, instead of the indiviudal million dollar wound, and everyone gets a flight home when the 87 billion is spent?

The operations will wind down over time and are therefore non-recurring. The $20B in reconstruction is in part there to ensure that the operations wind down in a reasonable fashion (security, etc.).

This compares to a recurring domestic spending program, which you can expect to be there year after year, forever.

[Kuciwalker]

Originally posted by The Emperor Fabulous
mmm, oh so high-and-mighty skywalker, allow me to bow to your omnipotent presence

[/sarcasm]

Hmmm.... maybe. You aren't really worthy.... difficult decision.

[el freako]

Originally posted by DanS
(6) This expense is non-recurring.

Well to be pedantic (one of my specialities), as the money is borrowed then 95% of the $150bn cost is non-recurring - the interest (currently 5%) will have to be paid forever unless the original 'loan' is paid off.

Then again the one-off costs keep coming don't they? (Kosovo, Macedonia, Afghanistan, Iraq)

[Kuciwalker]

el freako - it's a non-recurring expense to US, not the Iraqis

[Drake Tungsten]

but if you're so American, what's that Japanese flag doing there?

When did I claim to be American? I merely made fun of foreigners, which all you non-Japanese people are. Stupid gaijin...

[Saint Marcus]

So, what, the only ones who should be allowed to hold office should be those descended from England?

Stop grasping for straws.

Arnie was born Austrian in Austria. We're not talking about someone who's ancestors lived in the US for decades.

When did I claim to be American? I merely made fun of foreigners, which all you non-Japanese people are. Stupid gaijin...

so you in your infinite Japanese wisdom, know all about the US?

[Drake Tungsten]

so you in your infinite Japanese wisdom, know all about the US?

Yes. When you live in an important country, it is vital to know about other important countries. This is most likely why you know nothing about America...

[el freako]

Originally posted by skywalker
el freako - it's a non-recurring expense to US, not the Iraqis

Are you really that financially illterate?

If you borrow money you have to pay interest on it - and unless you eventually pay it back you have to pay interest indefinately (by rolling the loan over).

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by Agathon


Um.. what is the biggest problem then?

Too many "dog-people" and communists.


Comrade Tassadar, being a Cat-person, is forgiven.

[NeOmega]

Originally posted by DanS
Some things to point out.

(1) The $150B figure is $125 for the military and $25 for reconstruction;
(2) The vast majority of the $150B goes to Americans, creating jobs for Americans in the process;
(3) $150B is not much money to fight a war with our standing, professional army;
(4) Our military is being modernized in the process;
(5) We have been spending money, time and potential lives bombing Iraq for 12 years prior, which will cease; and
(6) This expense is non-recurring.

1) Ok, that's still alotta money.
2) Yeah, the money and the oil goes to America, yet somehow this is for the "Iraqi people"
3) Naw, it's only $5,000 EVERY AMERICAN CITIZEN! But hell, I make that EVERY 7 MONTHS! Not to mention we also got a country to run.
4) Good point. The Iraqis do make great target practice. And we are training an Army of SWAT memebers to help with the drug war when they get back.
5 & 6) You guys say it will stop, but have absolutely positively not one clue as to when exactly it will end.

[DanS]

NeOmega, you ignorant slut. That's $500 per American, not $5,000.

[NeOmega]

doh

well since it's only $500 dollars, I guess I can donate 80 hours of my life a year for the good of Haliburton.

[DanS]

You would be working about 12 minutes a year for the good of Haliburton's shareholders. You've probably spent more time on this thread.

[DanS]

Well to be pedantic (one of my specialities), as the money is borrowed then 95% of the $150bn cost is non-recurring - the interest (currently 5%) will have to be paid forever unless the original 'loan' is paid off.