Bush's $87 Billion Dollar Request

Dback Jon · September 10th, 2003, 12:46 PM

President Bush Sunday asked Congress for an additional $87 BILLION appropriation for the ongoing Iraq and Afganistan Wars.
This is in addition to the $79 Billion already spent in the two countries.

How does everyone feel about this staggering sum of money?
How should we pay for it?

The President is saying that no domestic spending will be affected, nor will tax cuts be affected - in other words, added to the $475 Billion Debt for the year.

SirStefan32 · September 10th, 2003, 12:49 PM

Most of that money is going to go to our military.
It sounds like a lot of money, but considering how much money we spend on othe things, it's really not much.

I say give it to him, but make him spell out exactly what it is going to be used for.

Stefan

WaywardFan · September 10th, 2003, 12:53 PM

Well, its $87B for our national security. That's good.

We spent $80B this year on a redundant and pork infested agriculture bill.

$87B is a MERE 3.9% of our annual budget.

Is it so staggering now?

Dback Jon · September 10th, 2003, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaywardFan
Well, its $87B for our national security. That's good.

We spent $80B this year on a redundant and pork infested agriculture bill.

$87B is a MERE 3.9% of our annual budget.

Is it so staggering now?

Good points, Wayward - we have way too much pork in many areas. The Farm Bill is out outstanding example - the majority of that money goes to large corporations, very little reaches the family farm.

Of course, we could look at it other ways - what else could it pay for? And I am not convinced that the war on Iraq does anything for our national security - if anything, it has destablized the entire regioni.

Looking at it another way, the Marshall Plan spent a total of (in 2003 dollars) $86 billion to rebuild most of Europe.

Chris_Sanders · September 10th, 2003, 12:59 PM

How should we spend it?

A pay raise for every enlisted man

How should we pay for it?

Slight increase on tariffs on all foreign goods?

WaywardFan · September 10th, 2003, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dback Jon
Looking at it another way, the Marshall Plan spent a total of (in 2003 dollars) $86 billion to rebuild most of Europe.

I'd like to see where you got that, DBack, because from what I got the Marshall plan cost current dollars $475B a YEAR.

Hmm...

Dback Jon · September 10th, 2003, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaywardFan
I'd like to see where you got that, DBack, because from what I got the Marshall plan cost current dollars $475B a YEAR.

Hmm...

Marshall Foundation. Total Cost was a bit over $11 Billion in actual dollars.

My conversion source could be wrong though, about converting 1948 to 1952 dollars to current.

WaywardFan · September 10th, 2003, 01:43 PM

And I'll have to find substantiation somewhere for the number I got.

I just can't believe your numbers, no offense intended. I mean, we rebuilt a whole continent taking 5 years.

Dback Jon · September 10th, 2003, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaywardFan
And I'll have to find substantiation somewhere for the number I got.

I just can't believe your numbers, no offense intended. I mean, we rebuilt a whole continent taking 5 years.

They come straight from the foundationi Marshall founded. It gives the breakdown by country.
http://www.marshallfoundation.org/ab...m#expenditures

WaywardFan · September 10th, 2003, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dback Jon
They come straight from the foundationi Marshall founded. It gives the breakdown by country.
http://www.marshallfoundation.org/ab...m#expenditures

And how did you come up with the conversion?

Dback Jon · September 10th, 2003, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaywardFan
And how did you come up with the conversion?

Daytona Beach Herald did that. They threw out the 11 Billion number, which I verified independently. Couldn't find a ready conversion, so I took their word, since they got the first number correct. Like I said, the conversion could be wrong.

I have seen a number closer to what you are saying, but it was based on a percentage of GNP calculation, not dollars.

WaywardFan · September 10th, 2003, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dback Jon
I have seen a number closer to what you are saying, but it was based on a percentage of GNP calculation, not dollars.

Hmmmm...

I'll try to find something on the web about it sometime.

And you could be right. That could be the distinction as well. When I heard the number I might have missed that part.

Thanks

O · September 10th, 2003, 06:49 PM

[quote]Originally posted by Dback Jon
[b]President Bush Sunday asked Congress for an additional $87 BILLION appropriation for the ongoing Iraq and Afganistan Wars.
This is in addition to the $79 Billion already spent in the two countries.

How does everyone feel about this staggering sum of money?
How should we pay for it?

Just make out your checks to Haliburton and Bechtel.

schutd · September 10th, 2003, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by WaywardFan
Well, its $87B for our national security. That's good.

We spent $80B this year on a redundant and pork infested agriculture bill.

$87B is a MERE 3.9% of our annual budget.

Is it so staggering now?

Honestly not debating the need for the money, 87 billion even if it is 3.9% pf the overall budget IS staggering when we're already 475 BILLION in the red.

To me, its staggering

Bush's $87 Billion Dollar Request

Re: Bush's $87 Billion Dollar Request