Things that make you go, “Hmmm….”

I thought this was interesting…while America drowns in red ink from a combination of Bush tax cuts and the money pit known as Iraq, Iraq has been racking up nice profits from selling all that oil they have. This year’s spike in oil prices has been especially good for Iraq — according to this website, they’re on track to have a budget surplus of more than $50 billion by year’s end. By contrast, America faces an estimated budget deficit of more than $400 billion for 2008, which includes this year’s portion of roughly $50 billion the U.S. has paid since 2003 to help stabilize and rebuild Iraq.

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grumpypilgrim

Grumpypilgrim is a writer and management consultant living in Madison, WI. He has several scientific degrees, including a recent master’s degree from MIT. He has also held several professional career positions, none of which has been in a field in which he ever took a university course. Grumps is an avid cyclist and, for many years now, has traveled more annual miles by bicycle than by car…and he wishes more people (for the health of both themselves and our planet) would do the same. Grumps is an enthusiastic advocate of life-long learning, healthy living and political awareness. He is single, and provides a loving home for abused and abandoned bicycles. Grumpy’s email: grumpypilgrim(AT)@gmail(DOT).com [Erich’s note: Grumpy asked that his email be encrypted this way to deter spam. If you want to write to him, drop out the parentheticals in the above address].

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Avatar of Erich Vieth
    Erich Vieth August 5, 2008 Reply

    Maybe we can borrow some of that Iraqi money so that we can buy lots of Iraqi oil for our SUV's. If you live in a world where evidence is irrelevant (such as the Bush Administration), problem solved!

  2. Avatar of grumpypilgrim
    grumpypilgrim August 6, 2008 Reply

    Situations like this highlight the true problem with the so-called "war on terror": like the so-called "war on drugs," Americans are funding both sides of the battle, so losing the war is virtually inevitable. "Victory" will only occur when we stop funding one side.

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