I'm not endorsing this plan, mind you,

[globalvillage]

but it is kind of fascinating. The writer is Terry Jones of Monty Python fame.

Of course, there's another thing that George Bush could have done with the money: he could have given every Iraqi $18,700. I imagine that would have reduced the threat of international terrorism somewhat. Call me old-fashioned, but I can't help thinking that giving someone $18,700 brings them round to your side more quickly than bombing the hell out of them.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,1983817,00.html

[DrFunkenstein]

1. I Made A Similar Point About Giving Them a Job and Clean Drinking Water

In the post of "the words that won my heart forever," I think there is a strong indication that Kerry is not far removed from this (albeit slightly exagerrated) idea.

[sandnsea]

2. Well that's too obvious

Republicans spend more money to keep somebody from getting something they 'don't deserve' than it would cost to just give them the money in the first place. That's why they can never make any of these 'democracies' work, even if the countries wanted to. They don't know how to grow economies from the bottom up and that's the only way democratic societies will ever really work. People have to be somewhat economically secure to put their faith in a system that let's people they don't like have control.

[karynnj]

3. I WOULD endorse it over a surge or stay the course

If the money were given in 12 increments over a year to all Iraqis IF and ONLY IF violence was below at set of thresholds that decrease over the year, it could be a more direct unusual way to give every Iraqi a stake in Iraq becoming stable.

Editted to say - I realize they are speaking of money spent - but we are still spending money and more importantly lives.