Hank Fox, The Blue Collar Atheist, after reading the ThinkProgress article “The $1.2 Trillion Trap: What America Gave Up For 10 Years Of War Since 9/11″ comments brilliantly and poignantly:

With $1.2 trillion, the U.S. could have done the following … every year for TEN YEARS:

  • PROVIDED 63.3 MILLION SCHOLARSHIPS FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
  • GIVEN 58.9 MILLION CHILDREN LOW-INCOME HEALTH CARE
  • GIVEN 23.6 MILLION PEOPLE ACCESS TO LOW-INCOME HEALTHCARE
  • PROVIDED 20.68 MILLION STUDENTS WITH PELL GRANTS WORTH $5,500
  • PROVIDED 15.12 MILLION HEAD START SLOTS FOR CHILDREN
  • PROVIDED VA CARE FOR 14.7 MILLION MILITARY VETERANS
  • HIRED 2.01 MILLION FIREFIGHTERS
  • HIRED 1.76 MILLION ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHERS
  • HIRED 1.73 MILLION POLICE OFFICERS
  • RETROFITTED 69.4 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS FOR WIND POWER
  • RETROFITTED 26 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS FOR SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY

For $1.2 trillion, we could have fed the world’s hungry. Done something about population. Saved the mountain gorillas and whales. Cured a dozen major diseases. Built solar collectors in space to beam down virtually unlimited energy.

Instead, we killed people. Set up a network of secret prisons. Used torture. Assaulted freedoms in our own country. And sent young men and women of America off to die and be horribly injured.

via 1.2 Trillion. Goddam. Dollars. | Blue Collar Atheist.

Share This