So. we could pour gobs more money into endless quagmires with no sure/good outcome.

[NRaleighLiberal]

or we could provide health care for millions of our endangered or suffering citizens and reduce costs due to the "emergency room" payment mentality and so much other current waste.

And this doesn't even touch the additional gobs of money being pissed away trying to prevent the right answer of the choices above from being implemented.

What's so hard about this decision??? Seems pretty clear cut to me!

[PDJane]

1. It's a question of priorities.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

2. How will bringing the troops home impact the economy?

Many would agree we have an economic draft with young men and women enlisting because of the lack of
opportunity or job prospects. I just wonder if all these troops come home how an already overburdened
system will absorb more unemployed workers. I have to believe there are those factoring this into their
arguments to increase troops in afghanistan.

[Hello_Kitty]

3. Just the people we could use for a public works program

Young men and women who could be reinforcing bridges and dams and things like that. Many of them have training that translates easily into civilian jobs.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

5. Excellent point.

If Obama wanted to truly launch the Green Revolution what a great resource.

[Mari333]

7. lets see..choose to be blown up in afghanistan or be home without a job

I think a wise person chooses the latter.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

10. Thanks for stating the obvious.

That was not the point of my post. I'm just pondering the economic realities that may occur
when hopefully our troops are safely home.

[1]

4. is this another thread knocking the public school system?

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. Nope. Knocking more spending on Iraq and Afghanistan.

And the ridiculous situation blocking doing real health care reform.

[Xolodno]

8. Economics

Pull them all back now and the unemployment level heaves up even further.

A public works program like that of the New Deal days would take care of that. Only here is the problem...The infrastructure is not there for it. Instead they've invested several decades worth of infrastructure in war-time industries. Thus its easier and more cost effective to keep them at war than starting all over. Sad but true...no one listened to Eisenhower when he warned about it.

[Xicano]

9. We're not part of the big club just like George Carlin pointed out

If it doesn't benefit wall street I wouldn't hold my breath.