When Gen. David Petraeus testifies today about the status of the Iraq occupation, I'll be thinking about my neighborhood elementary school.
Because the Bridge Street School in Northampton, Mass., may have to close for lack of funds, while we continue to waste billions on a failed foreign policy.
My town is facing a shortfall in our school budget between $800,000 to $1 million. We are forced with a choice between closing an entire school, which doesn't even make up the entire gap, or a series of cuts across the entire school district, including teaching positions, school buses, special education, music and arts education and supplies...[more]
Taxpayers in Toledo, Ohio have paid $402,300,000 for the Iraq War thus far. For the same amount of money, the following could have been provided:
142,592 People with Health Care OR
450,552 Homes with Renewable Electricity OR
9,110 Public Safety Officers OR
6,160 Music and Arts Teachers OR
46,417 Scholarships for University Students OR
37 New Elementary Schools OR
3,752 Affordable Housing Units OR
241,925 Children with Health Care OR
62,634 Head Start Places for Children OR
6,411 Elementary School Teachers OR
7,064 Port Container Inspectors
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THIS, for an illegal and immoral war. The guys running this fiasco should be impeached, imprisoned, and waterboarded. They are the enemies of the republic.
I don't understand why we went to war in Iraq, and why we're still there. I wonder if our presence in Iraq has created more terrorists than we've caught. I've been watching the HBO mini-series, "John Adams" (wonderful movie) - about how our Declaration of Independence & Constitution came to be, and one part, George Washington & John Adams were in agreement, that our country should neither depend on, be indebted to, or meddle in the business of no other country - that foremost in importance for America, was AMERICA, and to preserve it as a free & independent country. Watching this mini-series, makes you realize how our Constitution & Declaration of Independence has been torn to pieces, and disqusted at how our country is now indepted to so many other countries financially - to where our dollar may soon be worthless. Our govt. has felt the need to intrude on other countries business far too often - in times of war, I could understand better. Our country is fast being destroyed by those who financially are benefiting, and by the nanny state that sees nothing wrong with stripping freedoms. We are so in debt, we will never climb out of the hole again - meanwhile, our citizens go without health care, our roads are crumbling, and people still go hungry.
The govt., Big Pharma, Banking, & medical entities have sucked the life blood out of this country - the money we've spent in Iraq is draining us dry. I've heard people say we can't just pull out our troops immediately - that we "owe" Iraq a rebuilding, a chance to start a new govt.. But I think we've been there plenty long enough - if it was going to happen, it would have. I don't see where Iraq is any farther along, any better than it was a year ago. And when we never had any business being in Iraq in the first damned place - I am furious. They've been fighting holy wars in the Middle East for thousands of years - it's not likely those wars will end just because the USA is there. Not our business.
Chris,
About the $402,300,000 that Toledoans have paid for the Iraq war. Nobody's asked me for hard cash yet so should I expect that on my next Visa bill? I get the feeling that, if so, it's going to make it difficult for me to make the down payment on the SUV I've been eyeing in the Buick dealer's showroom. I appreciated your 11 alternative methods of spending all this money, especially the hiring of 7,064 Port Container inspectors. Can't get enough of those, especially is they're union and are guaranteed their 15 minutes off every two hours. But as much as I like seaport security, I think it's better for us to end the war and for Toledoans to send me the extra money for my down payment on the SUV, and maybe enough for a few monthly notes. "Out of Iraq! Into my Rendezvous!"