political rant

[bram]

I continue to be surprised when it's expressed, as in this recent book by Matt Bai--that liberals and the left in the U.S. are out of ideas, or do not have the intellectual power or subtlety of conservatives

Comments

$3 Billion

[jwfromnj]

Is that correct? That is perverse. I am sickened by this war and the casualties. I hate reading about how wonderful the advances are in prostetic limbs.
Your post put the number in perspective. How many clinics or water treatment plants in developing nations does that buy. (Yes, it is the Reagan loving classmate from 1985 talking). How many americans could be covered by healthcare for that much? I spent one night in the E.R. in July for diabetes issues and it cost six thousand dollars. Thats more than my car is worth. I could have cruised on the Queen Mary 2 for that.
The war is a sham. And it's being controlled by forces in the shadows. Heres something to Google. Blackwater, the mercenary "security" firm in Iraq just placed an order for combat support fighter planes from Embraer in Brazil. They are turboprops, not jets, but will carry weapons and fly close air support missins independent (yeah, sure) of out military. Are you comfortable with a private company operating combat aircraft in a war zone with U.S. Forces in the area?
I could share other insane outsourcing and war profiteering stories. Have spoken to a few Army food service guys who have been sent to the sidelines for outsourced (Halliburton) food providers.

Re: $3 Billion

[bram]

Yikes! Sorry to hear about the diabetes.

I'm pretty sure the $3/billion a week is right. That's $150 billion a year which sounds right. I'll get you some links.