Cost of one F-22 Raptor tactical fighter jet -- $225 million

Cost of the ongoing U.S. war in Iraq--$228 million/day

Amount spent by Kerry and Bush -- $400 million
campaigns

U.S. aid to Yushenko camp in recent -- $30+ million
Ukrainian conflict

Estimated cost of Bush's Second -- $ 40+ billion
Inauguration and Ball

Amount of U.S. tax cuts under Bush -- $1 trillion

Cost of the U.S. Iraq War in 2004 -- $147 billion

U.S. reconstruction aid budgeted for -- 18 billion
Iraq (though never spent!)

Amount the U.S. initially in aid -- $ 10 million
to Indian Ocean tsunami victims

Amount U.S. offered in tsunami aid -- $35 million
after being chastised by UN official

For more on this sorry story, please go (at no charge) to This Can't Be Happening! .

How much have you contributed again?

Thanks.

We've all contributed with our taxes, our work ,and so forth. Now, we'll have to self-tax again to make up for the shortcomings of the current so-called leaders.

that's a bit excessive.

They better not just serve hot dogs.

The inauguration will not cost anywhere near 40 billion dollars. It will cost in the neighborhood of 40 million dollars. Do try to pay attention to the details, will you?

And what do you mean, by the way, 'more rational'? If you are desirous of more of our government's money being spent on disaster relief, why should you complain about higher taxes being levied to provide for this relief? And my point remains that individuals who have not donated time or money to the relief effort have no standing to criticise those who have.