2008 Woodie Awards
War, economy matter to youth
Mike Hayes
Happy Hour | 4/3/08
Although candidates like Senator Barack Obama have inspired many young voters to become involved in current political issues, there are still many young voters who are uneducated and therefore uninterested when it comes to current political issues. I'll be the first to admit that politics can be boring; however, it is important to remember that the issues that will be decided upon by our future president will have an everlasting effect on young Americans and their futures. Despite the large number of issues facing our country, the current economy and the wars in the Middle East are two issues that I believe will have the most effect on young Americans.
The majority of young Americans support a conclusion to the wars in the Middle East, especially for the Iraqi War. It is, however, important to note there are also some young Americans who are against withdrawing our troops from the Middle East. All personal feelings and opinions aside, these wars have resulted in a large amount of sacrifice, not just of American lives, but a monetary sacrifice as well. Before you make your decision regarding the war, you should understand this sacrifice.
Current statistics have shown that the U.S. government spends approximately $10 billion a month on the Iraqi War. Thus, they spend about $120 billion a year. With a grand total of more than one trillion dollars spent on these wars, the United States has decided to pay for these wars by taking out loans, and this means that we have increased our national debt. Instead of selling war bonds to Americans like in World War II, the government has borrowed the money from countries like China. Therefore, instead of the American people loaning money out to the government, Americans have not had to give a dime to the war.
This is where the issue will affect young Americans. There will come a day when we have to pay back the money borrowed for the war. Instead of paying ourselves back by the war bonds, we will be paying back other countries. As the baby-boom generation retires, the burden of paying back the money for the war will fall squarely on our generation. This means we will have to sacrifice domestic spending like national heath care and maybe scrap welfare programs as well. It is so important that young Americans understand the lasting effects of this war, and we must push our future president to help assuage this monetary sacrifice.
The majority of young Americans support a conclusion to the wars in the Middle East, especially for the Iraqi War. It is, however, important to note there are also some young Americans who are against withdrawing our troops from the Middle East. All personal feelings and opinions aside, these wars have resulted in a large amount of sacrifice, not just of American lives, but a monetary sacrifice as well. Before you make your decision regarding the war, you should understand this sacrifice.
Current statistics have shown that the U.S. government spends approximately $10 billion a month on the Iraqi War. Thus, they spend about $120 billion a year. With a grand total of more than one trillion dollars spent on these wars, the United States has decided to pay for these wars by taking out loans, and this means that we have increased our national debt. Instead of selling war bonds to Americans like in World War II, the government has borrowed the money from countries like China. Therefore, instead of the American people loaning money out to the government, Americans have not had to give a dime to the war.
This is where the issue will affect young Americans. There will come a day when we have to pay back the money borrowed for the war. Instead of paying ourselves back by the war bonds, we will be paying back other countries. As the baby-boom generation retires, the burden of paying back the money for the war will fall squarely on our generation. This means we will have to sacrifice domestic spending like national heath care and maybe scrap welfare programs as well. It is so important that young Americans understand the lasting effects of this war, and we must push our future president to help assuage this monetary sacrifice.
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