economy of America during war time

I believe that people's life and the world is developing while the war happen. Because of the technology, people's life become more and more easier, and got lots of help. But as the life change, is the economic of our society become better than before or worst than before? The folloowing, i would compare the economic of America during World War II and Iraq War.

World War II
"By the end of the war, the economy had a more highly skilled labour force, as well as institutions that were more conducive to sustained economic growth..." The unemployment problem ended in the United States with the beginning of World War II, when stepped up wartime production created millions of new jobs. Therefore, most of the women could get the full employment during the WWII. During the war, agriculture became increasingly mechanized, manufacturing showed unprecedented growth, exports jumped, government spending increased substantially, unemployment virtually disappeared. The economy not only recovered from the Great Depression, which had preceded the war, but also gained the momentum that would lead to rapid postwar prosperity. When the men returned home from the war, women backed to their traditional position. Cause of this, it created lots of job opportunities for men. From World War II, we can see that not all of the wars are causing the bad influence on the economic. (source: http://www.canadianeconomy.gc.ca/English/economy/1939ww2.html)

Iraq War
Spending on Iraq is also a job killer. According to the New York Times, "Every $1 billion spent on a combination of education, healthcare, energy conservation and infrastructure investments creates between 50 and 100 percent more jobs than the same money going to Iraq..." Taking the 2007 Iraq budget might be able to upward of 1 millions of jobs but the Bush Administration chose the Iraq sinkhole over public investment. And most of the people think the situation of the economic is bad now because people become harder and harder to find the job. Also, the medicare budget is cutted by the the government; there are limited scholarship to help poor students to graduate from college; when the diseater happen, the government could not provide enough help for the people from the other countries...

US Military Spending vs. The World, 2008

According to the pie chart, we can summarize out the following information about the military spending of US and compare it with the other countries in the world:

• US military spending almost half 48%, of the world’s total military spending.


• US military spending is more than the next 46 highest spending countries in the world combined.


• US military spending is 5.8 times more than China, 10.2 times more than Russia, and 98.6 times more than Iran.


• US military spending is almost 55 times the spending on the six “rogue” states whose spending amounts to around $13 billion, maximum.


• US spending is more than the combined spending of the next 45 countries.


• The United States and its strongest allies spend $1.1 trillion on their militaries combined, representing 72 percent of the world’s total.


• The six potential “enemies,” Russia, and China together account for about $205 billion or 29% of the US military budget.

The above information outline are from source web site. From those outline, we can figure out that the US government have become the greatest military spender in the world. But no one could sure if those money is worth enough to spend on that field. Also, because of the hugh amount spending only in one part of the government plan. I think the government should give out the detail plan on how the money use in the beginning of the year or the end of year. In this way, people could give out their opinion. Also, the government could work on the better way base on people's opinion.

(Source: http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/ArmsTrade/Spending.asp#InContextUSmilitarybudgetvsotherUSprioritieses.org/Geopolitics/ArmsTrade/Spending.asp#InContextUSmilitarybudgetvsotherUSprioritieses.org/Geopolitics/ArmsTrade/Spending.asp#InContextUSmilitarybudgetvsotherUSpriorities)

US military budget vs. other US priorities

"The United States must not compound one strategic mistake--invading Iraq and breaking the Iraqi state--with another, funding an intensified civil war and a corrupt Iraqi government. " I strong agree with this statement because no matter how the other country's government does not good at rule the country, others countries do not have right to paticipant in that political. The only thing could do is try the best to give the global help, but not start the war or put the military into the other's country. I think that action means invade. And the war looks like the US want to expand the military and get control of the oil...

"This year spending will easily top $160 billion...Ongoing veterans' health costs, debt payments and the cost of re-equipping the military are some of the reasons for this outrageous $3 trillion bill. At the same time that the war has imposed a huge burden on taxpayers, it has precipitated one of the largest transfers of wealth and power in modern history. By helping to drive up world oil prices, it has produced a massive redistribution of wealth from working Americans and other oil and gas consumers to a handful of oil producers...Redirecting Iraq War funds to education, healthcare, renewable energy and infrastructure would create up to twice as many jobs...All the candidates, meanwhile, want to increase the already enormous military budget..." To my opinion, money could help people do so many stuff and change people's life. But the government choose to use those money to fight the war but not improve the quality of people's life. In the Iraq war, as the money spend in the war increase, the more livies will be lost. So, is that the stupid thing to start the war? Most of the people think, the government only care the profit of oil which they can make, they never care about the public vision.
According to the pie chart, we can see that 43% of the taxes, the US government spend it on the Military and the post wars. But the health services and the social programs only use 23% of the taxes. To my own opinion, some part of the taxes should use to support the military, but the major percentage of taxes should the government use it to make people's life better, not to ruin the other's livies.
(Source: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080331/editors20080331/editors
http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/ArmsTrade/Spending.asp#InContextUSmilitarybudgetvsotherUSprioritieses.org/Geopolitics/ArmsTrade/Spending.asp#InContextUSmilitarybudgetvsotherUSpriorities )

Don't blame the war for the economy

This is the opinion article of the relation between the Iraq war and US economy. The writer think that "The war in Iraq and the poor state of the U.S. economy are often viewed as cause and effect...they are two very different messes..." I am no fan of the war in Iraq, but it simply has not been a major contributor to the financial. The high price of oil is largely the result of strong demand, and this has affect all over the world with the pressing against a limited supply. I still remember that there are long lines in the gas stations where the drivers wait for the gas. Also, the price of the gas is going crazy. The global oil supply is growing more slowly than it could because of politics and policies in many places. Fears that the turmoil in Iraq might spread have probably given a boost to oil prices, but nowhere near enough to account for the huge price surge.

The war in Iraq has been much more costly than anyone expected, both in lives and money, and it is tempting to wrap it into a single package with our current economic, and I think that the policy mistakes had contributed to it. But blaiming those messes does not help to change anything.

Source: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/21/opinion/edbailey.php

Public's view of Economy and Iraq War

The Economy is bad, and if people aren't losing their jobs, they're getting so few hours they can't survive. Would it be nice to have our billions taxpayer dollars back from the Iraq war right now? Think it might pay some bills, reduce your mortgage, cover retirement expenses, pay for medicine, send the kid to college, pay for your expensive gasoline, ... on the other hand, the war then caused oil/gas prices to go up, up, up, and rising.

I think John McCain is the weakest in this election because his lack of knowledge on the economy is the killing point, and i don't think he understand the global economy. Also, he says in his speech that he support the Iraq war--"the war might be still last for a hundred years..." He is also what appears to be ignorant of the fact that the war in Iran is a hugh economic drain on our economy and detracts us from our quest against the terrorists. By consentraiting on Iraq we have not had the needed time and resorces to take on terrorist in other country's.

Some people might even think: thank God daily G. W. Bush will soon be leaving his throne at our beautiful white house and crawling back to Texas. From here, we can see that how Bush's decision ruin people's life and make people feel bad about him...

(Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/17/AR2008041703769_pf.html)

The Iraq War Is Killing Our Economy

"Recognizing the costs of the Iraq War is even more crucial now that the economy is facing recession."

There is no longer any doubt that the Iraq War is a moral and strategic disaster for the United States. But what has not yet been fully recognized is that it has also been an economic disaster. According to the news, the government has spent more than $522 billion on the war, and the amount is still increasing date after date. I think that the government should use the money which spend in the war to have provided Medicaid-level health insurance for all 45 million Americans who are uninsured. What's more, we could have added more elementary and secondary schoolteachers. And we could have provided basic home weatherization for millions of existing homes, reducing energy consumption in these homes.


Spending on Iraq is also a job killer. According to the New York Times, "Every $1 billion spent on a combination of education, healthcare, energy conservation and infrastructure investments creates between 50 and 100 percent more jobs than the same money going to Iraq..." Taking the 2007 Iraq budget might be able to upward of 1 millions of jobs but the Bush Administration chose the Iraq sinkhole over public investment. Recognizing these costs of the Iraq War is even more crucial now that the economy is facing recession.


I think there are three important factors that help to create more job opportunites,
1. More jobs but lower-paying jobs.
2. More money stays within the US economy.
3. Stop the war immediately.
It is important to know which of these three factors is relatively more important in generating the overall increase in jobs.

Source: http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/79988/

Pay for Peace--Withhold from War

The federal government had spent greatest amount on the Iraq War, and those money comes from our taxes. Otherwise, some people would think, are we supporting the war through this way and destorying others' homeland, also take away the others' lives...Because of the religion, they do not want this situation continues, so they find out their own way to take action--refuse to pay federal taxes. (Source:http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=4734449)

They calculate the part from the federal taxes which support the war, so they refuse to pay that part. But some people are put into prison because they do not pay the taxes. Later on, the government also find out the way which respect their religion and freedom. The government step up the form for the people to register the 2008 taxes boycott...

(Source:http://www.wartaxboycott.org/gettingstarted.htm)

Presidential Candidates Question US Military Commander About Iraq

All three candidates -- John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama -- sit on committees that received an assessment of the war's progress.

Their political division over the war -- McCain supports a continuation of the war while the Democrats say they would withdraw troops.

The following is the conclusion of those three candidates' politicla plan which i summarized after i red Times magazine:

McCain: McCain was able to put both officials on record that a certain level of troops is likely to remain in Iraq for years to come. McCain has said U.S. troops could be in Iraq for 100 years, citing the half-century or longer U.S. Democrats have criticized McCain, contending that he backs a 100-year war. In his opening statement, McCain put a positive spin on developments in Iraq over the past year, saying security has improved dramatically and political reconciliation has moved forward since the United States shifted course from what he called four years of mismanagement that brought the U.S.-led war "almost to the point of no return." Our goal -- my goal -- is an Iraq that no longer needs American troops." [personally, i don't like him]

Hillary: Clinton argued there has been a lack of political progress in Iraq. She placed the blame not just on President Bush, but also supporters of his policy -- in other words, McCain. "The administration and supporters of the administration's policy often talk about the cost of leaving Iraq, yet ignore the greater costs of continuing the same failed policy," she said. "I think it's time to begin an orderly process of withdrawing of our troops." [i believe that if Hillary could win the election, women could get a better protect and the fair situation with men.]

Obama: "What we have not seen is the Iraqi government using the space that was created not only by our troops but by the standdown of the militias in places like Basra, to use that to move forward on a political agenda that could actually bring stability," Obama said.
Obama, who leads Clinton in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, won't get his turn to speak until near the end of the day. Obama also criticized McCain for supporting the war, "John McCain has not offered any clear point at which he suggests it's time for us to move our troops home." [i am a little bit scare of Obama because the blacks would be so happy if he wins the election. On the other hand, i believe that he is the one whom have the best knowledge to how to run the country of those three people. He would use his ability to lead the United States to another topest point...]


http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/04/08/iraq.candidates/?iref=mpstoryview
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7337877.stm (for pictures)
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-04-08-voa66.cfm
http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-uswar0409,0,4831533.story

How the war contribute to the economy of US

The American economy present difficult position, the investment rate drop and corporate accounting which too much causes with the enterprise productivity the scandal related, but most direct blasting fuse or "9 .11" event. According to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) the report stated that, "9 .11" the event causes the foreign country greatly to reduce to the beautiful investment, US 2,001 -2003 actual GDP total reduces 500 billion US dollars, is equal to year GDP 5%. Therefore, the US economic recession picture is the hegemony is threaten to be the result of, but is not pure is the economic agent. In this kind of situation, still depended upon "the beautiful stock economic" the old formula promotes the American economy not to be obviously good, after President Bush comes on stage, "the war economic" has finally torn down before conceals the camouflage, floated the water surface.

The American government deeply knows by heart US economic boom, our country security and the world security problem three between relations, its essence is must maintain the US economic boom to have to guarantee our country security, the restoration "invests the heaven" the status, simultaneously gives the whole world to make the not too big nor too small trouble, lets other countries "have the control" not to be unsafe. Along with the international environment change, the terrorism gradually replaced "the rascal country" to become US'S most important threat, "made first move and got control" the strategy also therefore had the opportunity. Looked like in US that, the war is the economy recovers "the strong heart needle", is treats the economic recession the effective prescription. The market economy is "too much" the economy, relative too much accumulates the result is declines, but armament and war industry development, on the one hand may massively consume "too much" the commodity, on the other hand may accelerate "the relative backwardness" the military science and technology to the civil enterprise shift, complies with the decline period fixed asset large-scale renewal the request. Domestic contradictory is prominent and the military force inflation, these two big strengths mutual function inevitably causes "hawks" to produce depends on the war goes out the decline "the mire" the motive. Thus, US'S economical quality on safely hangs up the hook with the world to come, economic recession war "blasting fuse".

US stimulates the economy using the war, the promotion comprehensive national strength and the international standing quite has the history. The First World War causes US two to flow the country by to jump for the first-class powerful nation, Second World War achievement US superpower status. The Gulf War victory has facilitated US "the new economy" and 10 years economic boom time. In 1999 an euro birth, many people thought the euro may "speak the last words of a spoken part rhythmically" to US dollar, causes the American stock market to vibrate, the foreign capital is ready to make trouble, but the Kosovo war which leads by US gets up has prevented international capital backflow Europe the effect, euro helplessness. These all are US "the war economic" manifesting.

http://www.vvaw.org/gallery/images/fall03photos/cheney-halliburton.jpg

Who do you believe would effect our future...

In the election for the President of 2008 of Democracy Party, Obama and Clinton had given their promise to the people which try to make people vote for them to support in order to win the election. According to their promise, who do you trust more? Personally, i believe Clinton more than Obama. First of all, that is my striaght feeling of her ability. Then, because her husband had been president for 8 years so that Hilltary Clinton could learn the experiences from him how to rule the country. At last, i am affraid that Blacks would become more swollen with arrogance to the Chinese. Because i believe that Chinese is the weak group in the U.S. society. Also, many people have want to stop the war(i feel the same way like the others), but would they really do that in the future? And what would they do for our country, society, and our economic?

[the following promise are summized after i read several Chinese News about the 2008 elections]The Promise of Obama:

About the economic: 1. Establishment equality tax payment system

2. The square deal - can promote the globalization, if must want to implement the Austria Pama the policy, has the possibility to need very much through to cause US dollar to depreciate realizes.

3. Employment policy - he thought US should enhance the native place the manufacture industry, because can enhance the employment rate like this.

4. Increases the house purchasing ability

5. Commercial development policy

6. Small commercial policy - he will be able subsidizes by the many kinds of tax rates preferential policy and the medical service helps the small commercial development.

About the Iraq war: He promise that he will withdraw all combat troop after the elected 16 months from Iraq, but he indicated, could first with be stationed Iraqi the United States military to direct the official to consult: "I plan from Iraq withdraw our army."

The Promise of Hilltary Clinton:

About the economic: 1. The initiative cancellation reduces the tax policy

2. The middle class tax affairs reduce, the retirement plans, superior loan crisis solution

3. Provides the tax revenue preferential benefit to encourage deposit

4. In the real estate industry crisis question, Hillary proposed to redeems extends a time limit 90 day, and freezes this kind of loan interest rate for 5 years.

About the Iraq war: Hillary favors the minute stage withdrawal of troops. She said that, "After my president-elect can request to formulate set of plans immediately, starts in 60 days to withdraw troops. I thought that, we may each month withdraw one to two travel."

The Obama and Clinton all believed, because the Iraqi war spends greatly, therefore causes medical health care, education as well as other domestic need funds lacks. The Obama said that, "This war lets us fall into the difficult position. Obama and Hillary Clinton all guaranteed, if were elected, withdraws the American army from Iraq.

Obama-Clinton Issue: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/opinion/18brooks.html

The article from this link show the analyze of the background of Obama and Clinton and their year experiences with the political.

The link of the picture: http://a.abcnews.com/images/Politics/abc_obama_clinton_070615_ms.jpg

The cut budget and the money spend on the Iraq War

Several months ago, my mother told me that her company CPC have the cut the budget of employee and their family's medicare because of the government cut the budget. They do not have enough money to support so many people and so many program any more. So they also cut the budget for scholarship program and the summer camp program. To my opinion, President Bush has spent too much money on th war. For more than 5 years, he can't even back now because he doesn't have any reason to explain it, or even he can't step back any more. My family have the low income, in order to get the medicare, the empolyer company need to consider each employee's working hours to eligible. Even my family could get the medicare, but we have to pay some medical sometimes because the program does not cover it any more. And those pills are espensive. What i ask is -- when could we end the war? Here is some amout of the Iraq War and the medicare:

• President Bush has already spent over $200 billion on the Iraq War.


• The ongoing costs of the Iraq occupation costs roughly $1 billion a week


• The VA hospitals and facilities should be the pride of our nation, not the dilapidated embarrassment they have come to be.

For a successful war? "By the time the Iraqi war is over and we have liberated the 27 million Iraqis didn't want our liberating force it will have cost U.S taxpayers a half a trillion dollars or about $500 billion. " For a better health-care system? "June 1, 2004 is the day that the new Medicare prescription drug cards will be effective for senior citizens. The administration of this program is a nightmare come true for seniors. Participants must first pay a $35 a month premium, then a $250 deductible and then have to pay a co-pay of $20 or so. Then when their out-of-pocket reaches about $1250 the plan stops, and doesn't kick in again until they have spent over $3000 or so. Then when their out of pocket reaches $5000, the plan will pay for almost all. " Participants have to choose a card that advertises partial coverage of some drugs, then commit to that card for months on end, even though the card providers can change their terms and coverage as often as they want, without warning. Last time when my parents made appointment with the doctor, they have to pay $25 dollars to see the docotor. My dad was wondering why. But the only answer he got is -- that's what the new rule say, without the payment, you can't see the doctor...nothing else we could do, only could pay the amount. To the people who suffer from the regular life, is that $25 a small amount to pay? It might costs their several days money for the food...

Link for the source: http://irregulartimes.com/index.php
http://skeptically.org/parwho/id7.html
Link for the picture: www.CartoonStock.com(http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/lbo/lowres/lbon21l.jpg)

Why We Fight

Last night, i watched the news on the TV. I was noticed that president Bush still insist his decision to expand the war in Iraq is right. And the money which spend on the war is increasing more and more. To me, that means residents are file the tax to support the war. Up to here, i could relate what i hear to what i learn today. In my H7 government class, i am watching the film called "Why We Fight". In one part of the movie, the journalist interview the people that do they know why the government fight the war in Iraq. Most of the responds, they do not really know why the government and president insist to fight. And they have their own opinion which like fighting for the oil, fighting for the freedom...The President Bush said what he did just help Iraq to rule the country and get rid of the terrorism. To me, it is nonsense because it just show how the President Bush is selfish and that's the plitical of the other country. He does not care the people who live in Iraq would be homeless or not, just care about what they want. What happen if it is the way back? Also, there is another footage in the film which show the people in Iraq pray for the American after September, 11. But later on, President Bush pointed out that the terrorism attrack was led by Osama bin Laden (Iraqian). So, the money is spending on destory people's home. When would the President stop the war and place the peace back to Iraq or the world?

Here is the link for the picture:

http://www.elfrank.com/gov/

Bush Asks Congress Act `Urgently` on Colombia Deal

For the Colombia Deal, President Bush just doesn't get it. Our so-called 'courageous ally in South America' is home to the worst violence against union members in the entire world. And the terrism in the Colombia is still growing because more and more unionists were murdered during these years. On the other hand, Colombian government still has not done enough to stop murders of trade unionist and put their killers in jail. Also, Obama and Cliton are oppose this deal. President Bush just want to do what he want, and he does not make clear with the situation. And he uses he position to put the pressure to the Congress to pass it. What i see is, President Bush is short-sight when he wants some urgently. I think each deal which pass by the congress are the long-sight and long-term program to make the country develop. And about this deal, the lawmarkers still are not sure about its meaning and is it really good for the country. President Bush might send this deal to the congress, but the opinion of many politican are not agree with him, and they think he should wait until the lawmarkers confirm about it.

The link of the news and the picture:

http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=136467