General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe War on Terra Cost America $21 Trillion. M4A Costs $15 Trillion
As we remember the 20th anniversary of the event that put America on a route to becoming a lesser nation, we should put the astronomical amount of money and resources we wasted in murdering Muslims abroad and eroding our freedoms at home into their proper perspective.
The U.S. spent $21 trillion dollars on the useless terror wars abroad and on the Orwellian surveillance and carceral state at home, according to a study by the Institute of Policy Studies.
The authors note that just $1.7 trillion can erase student debt and free entire generations to finally build wealth. Another $4.5 trillion can fully decarbonize American energy consumption and help prevent our planet from burning and drowning.
But the $21 trillion figure struck me the most because it would easily cover the amount of new government spending Medicare For All would require over ten years, according to this paper by the Political Economic Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
The group estimated that health care costs under M4A would amount to $37.79 trillion between 2017 and 2026. Public expenditures already cover 60% of those costs.
So in other words, 9/11 and the terror war that followed robbed Americans of the opportunity to live better lives. Let's never forget or make the same mistake again.
Voltaire2
(12,939 posts)While increasing payroll and other taxes, M4A drastically reduces how much we spend on private health insurance and individual health costs, so the entire picture is a net savings.
leftstreet
(36,097 posts)CrispyQ
(36,413 posts)when you spend the money on the People, instead of giving it to military contractors.
jalan48
(13,836 posts)RANDYWILDMAN
(2,663 posts)Remember that, the next time a blowhard tells you we have to go to war.
Don't tell me I don't understand.
Uncle Bob is still trying to figure out why his leg was blown off in vietnam.
Next time we need M4A !