"If the Bush administration succeeds in its latest request for funding the war in Iraq, the total cost would rise to $611.5 billion, according to the National Priorities Project, a nonprofit research group. The amount got us wondering: What would $611 billion buy?"They came up with some fascinating Boston-centric alternatives. Such as, building 4,000 replicas of Newton Central High School (at $156.5 million, the most expensive in Massachusetts). Or, the war funding could instead buy 14 million years of tuition, board and books at Harvard ... or 53 million years of tuition and fees at U-Mass. Or seven years of food and education for all the world's poor.
But, of course, $611.5 billion is too big a number to really grasp. What about our share of that cost ... the amount collected from those of us in Racine County? What could we have done with our portion, had we been given the chance?
Unless my calculator is toying with me, each of 300 million Americans paid an average of $2,038 of that $611.5 billion ($611.5 B / 300 M). The 2006 census said there are 196,096 of us living in Racine County ... which multiplies out (196,096 * $2,038) to a staggering $399,709,013 as our collective share. (And you were complaining about an $18 million jail expansion?)
What the hell, let's play government and just round it up to $400 million.
Now, what would you do here with that much money, if given the opportunity?
Don't be shy; we'd love to hear your suggestions. Best replies win a vote in the 2008 election.
Give it back to the taxpayers. They/we would invest the money better than the government would.
ReplyDeleteI'd split it into three areas:
ReplyDelete1.) Schools. Unified alone needs about $100 million just to get its buildings up to passable condition. The community needs to make a sizable investment in its schools if it's ever going to change its image and attract people, rather than sending them away. (Plus, if we hired local firms (as much as possible) and workers, it'd be an investment in the community.)
2. Health care. Guarantee everyone in the community has basic health care, dental care and eye care in the community. Invest money to expand the Racine County Healthcare Network to include more people in need.
3. Drug and alcohol counseling. If we want to cut the crime rate, we have to address the drug problem. Instead of declaring "war on drugs" (which clearly isn't working), we need to provide programs to help people overcome their addictions.
And here are few more ideas:
* Start a medical school at St. Mary's. It would draw top students from around the country, increase the number of doctors available locally and bring international attention to Racine.
* Guarantee that every high school graduate in Racine County has their tuition paid for four years to a state university or technical college.
I take this if there was never a war? That 9-11 did not happen?
ReplyDeleteLets see, assuming we use the US Constitution as a guide (remember, that document that both parties so conveniently don't feel restrained by) that money would not be taxed, and therefore, would not have to be spent by the federal government since, as we all know, the 10th ammendment prohibits the federal government from spending in anything not specified by the Constitution. Hmmm. $400 million just from the Iraq War. Wait, and what percentage of the total federal budget is that. Aaahhh! How about those nice entitlement programs that are unconstitutional. Now we have something going here!
ReplyDeletePublius
I know, I know, we can build a traint hat nobody will ride!
ReplyDeleteI'd use it for two areas that need a huge jump start but would ultimately serve and improve the future of the whole county:
ReplyDeletePublic Schools - A miracle infusion of $$ might give them the fresh start to improve buildings, as well as programs and teacher compensation - then residents could support improved schools without massive new taxes.
KRM - A train system is an infrastructure investment that would support private business public engagement and personal mobility and success.