Bush seeks bigger budget for Iraq, Afghan wars

Somehow, it makes the amount of money seem a bit more real when it’s put out in a real dollar figure, as opposed to simply saying “$80 billing”. This is the amount of money that President Bush is about to ask Congress for, to support the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This is money that will not be used for issues in the United States that effect our people in our every day lives. This is money that will not be used to help the tsunami victims.

So what’s my point? Just this. We can spend all our money making this country even more bankrupt with all our foreign interests that we actually have little influence over (the war in Iraq). There will be suicide bombers for as long as we are there, and no amount of extra money will stop that. BUT.... $80 BILLION would go a long way to actually make a difference to people effected by the tsunami, or for any one of the social programs dealing with real day problems in our own country.

We can make a difference in people’s lives, but we should make it count. That $80 BILLION would go a long ways to give our own troops the body armor they should have had in the first place. How many lives would have been saved if the Bush Administration had asked for this money two years ago for that purpose?

The $80 BILLION would do wonders for an AIDS hospice, or a battered women’s shelter, or so many other causes. Instead, we want to use the money where it will be least effective.

But, it’s just our money. It only adds to the deficit. And, historically, adding to our deficit hasn’t been a problem for this President.

Additional reading on this.