Bailout = Blowout
A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you are talking some real money, right?
Here’s something that will really put this bailout in perspective: when you add up previous monster government programs, they still pale in comparison to this year’s spendathon – which is not yet over. This blog even adjusted the figures for inflation!
From the Consumerist:
Marshall Plan: Cost: $12.7 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $115.3 billion
Louisiana Purchase: Cost: $15 million, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $217 billion
Race to the Moon: Cost: $36.4 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $237 billion
S&L Crisis: Cost: $153 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $256 billion
Korean War: Cost: $54 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $454 billion
The New Deal: Cost: $32 billion (Est), Inflation Adjusted Cost: $500 billion (Est)
Invasion of Iraq: Cost: $551b, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $597 billion
Vietnam War: Cost: $111 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $698 billion
NASA: Cost: $416.7 billion, Inflation Adjusted Cost: $851.2 billionTOTAL: $3,920,000,000,000
2008 BAILOUT TOTAL AS OF NOV 2008: $4,616,000,000,000
All of these cumulative programs, wars, and real estate deals cost far less than what Uncle Sam has spent in the past couple of months, and is still not done spending our money. Who do they suppose will pick up the bill? Politicians love visible beneficiaries and invisible victims. Jack Murtha taught us that if you bring home the bacon, regardless of what else you do, you will get re-elected.