So far in the campaign there has been a surprising lack of attempts to tie the cost of the Iraq conflict to the flagging economy or to compare what these resources could have otherwise accomplished. Of course, it’s hard for the average citizen to conceive the million or effect of a billion dollars.
What is a billion dollars. I don’t know off the top of my head. When I hear it’s been spent it just sounds like a lot of money. It also sounds like a lot of money when I hear 10 billion was spent. Same with 100 billion.
After the amounts of money exceed what the average citizen can conceive spending themselves, it loses most of its meaning.
As a result, here is my advice to the Obama campaign. In the lead up to each debate (through commercials), during each debate, and following each debate (through commercials) the Obama campaign should cite the amount of money the Iraq war costs that state, and could have done if applied to other ends.
This feat is easily accomplished by a short review of thecostofwar.com. This incredible resource computes the effective cost of the Iraq conflict.
I’ll do a little work for the campaign and compile these figures for Oxford, Mississippi, the location of the first Presidential debate via the University of Mississippi.
Population 14,911
Total Cost to Oxford, Mississippi $6.9 Million
1,555 People Would Receive Healthcare For A Year
5,117 Homes with Renewable Electricity for One Year
1,502 Scholarships for University Students for One Year
102 Affordable Housing Units
4,074 Children with Health Care for One Year
1,152 Head Start Places for Children for One Year
142 Elementary School Teachers for One Year
124 Port Container Inspectors for One year
The national numbers are astonishing:
10,777,823 Elementary School Teachers for One Year
193,370,980 People with Health Care for One Year (almost four times the amount of uninsured)
679,232,570 Homes with Renewable Electricity for One Year (more than twice the entire US population)
101,437,848 Scholarships for University Students for One Year
5,103,740 Affordable Housing Units
289,177,337 Children with Health Care for One Year
90,037,052 Head Start Places for Children for One Year
10,777,823 Elementary School Teachers for One Year
9,479,502 Port Container Inspectors for One Year
It is more than a slight understatement to say that in these tough economic times I think this messaging will be effective.
