My calculator doesn't have enough zeroes...

[Karen01]

Hi, y'all. I was talking to someone at Best Buy a day or two ago - a clueless 23 year-old sales clerk who STILL believes that Iraq was behind the WTC disaster because Rush the Pig-Boy said so. Of course, there's no talking any sense to this type - unless you can tell them how much this is going to hit their wallet... Well, we have this $87B, plus what there was before - I can't remember, what $60B or $70B, plus probably another multi-billion installment or two. How much does this work out for each man, woman, and child? My calculator only has 8 places - only into the tens of millions... Any clue, any one? Maybe this would be a good talking point that can reach even the most clueless Freepers and Repuglicans...

Max Pax,
Karen

:hippie: :hippie:

[trotsky]

1. Drop the zeroes

~$150 billion / 300 million

same as

150,000 / 300

=

$500 for each man, woman, and child. But you know damn well working stiffs will pay more of that, because it will be withdrawn from social security. The rich will make money because of the gov't bonds they own to finance the deficit.

[PunkinPi]

2. here's the tally of the cost of the war in Iraq

http://www.costofwar.com/

I don't think NASA could even calculate :evilgrin:

Welcome to the DU Karen01 :hi: !

[JHB]

3. When that happens...

...just skip a convenient number of zeroes (i.e., do it in thousands, millions).

Given $87B+$70B divided by (top of my head) 270 million, I ger $581 plus change for every man, woman, and child in the country. Exact numbers may vary, but your Best Buy Boy's share of the bill will be at least a couple of hundred dollars JUST THIS YEAR. And they way W is regressing the tax structure, odds are he's actually going to be the one to pay it, not some billionaire.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

4. The national debt adds another $20,000+ per every American.

Or $50,000 per household. Ain't credit grand?

[zbdent]

5. Better yet, teach the idiot long division - in case his

cash register (with the pictures of the items and the laser scanner) goes down.

In fact, it does more of an impact if the figures are tangible (on paper, in hand), and spelled out for the moran.

Tally up the numbers (include every zero). The hard part comes when you have to divide the total $$$ by the population, but first you have to move some decimals. Those who actually remember how to do it shouldn't have as much problem.

Bet this kid couldn't add the general billions without help from the Manager (two years older than him/her).

[never cry wolf]

6. This money is all borrowed too

I heard somewhere recently that it is gonna cost $3.60 for every $1 over the next 6 years.

[Jacobin]

7. On a computer?

Go to programs/accessories/calculator.

The calculator on your computer has enough digits.


BTW, has your friend figured out how many years or decades we will be there? Last estimate I heard was it would take one trillion dollars to stay there for ten years.

divided by 380 million americans, that is $2631 for every man woman and child in this country.

Did you also tell him that 900 million of the 87 billion aid package is for Iraq to BUY oil from other countries for its own use? (just in case he says that Iraqi oil will pay for the whole sheebang. :eyes: