Canvasback, Your question is loaded with assumptions. I'll start by citing the worst example since the war in Vietnam, namely the invasion of Iraq. You can investigate costs in dollars and lives to suit yourself.The results will be suffered for beyond the foreseeable future. As a positive example, there's Obamacare. It won't get much support on this site, but 20 million Americans now have health insurance who lacked it before, perhaps the majority of them blue collar families who voted for Trump. If Republicans had tried to improve it, it and they'd be in better shape today. But, no, they reflexively detest it because it wasn't their program, even though it really was. Now they're attempting to abolish it entirely despite having no clue what to do next. It they succeed, it will be an electoral disaster for them. Your question hinges on what is acceptable as a reasonable price. As a conservative, perhaps you bring a business orientation to the criterion. I'd remind you, government is not a business. It doesn't exist to show a profit. Nowadays. monetizing and increasing shareholder profit are the only standards applied to most every issue, especially by Republicans.
Bill, great examples. Oops, maybe not.
Let's start with the Viet Nam war. Started by a Democrat. Wildly expanded by a Democrat. Ended by a Republican.
The Iraq war. You will recall that America entered the Iraq war with overwhelming support on both sides of the aisle. This wasn't a partisan adventure, embarked upon by those damn warmongering Republicans. This was an ill-advised response to the attack on American soil that had all Americans still reeling several years later.
Obamacare. I'm not one to knee jerk against healthcare. As you know I live in a country that has a form of universal healthcare. And despite this we barely spend less per capita than the universally acknowledged crappy system the US has saddled itself with. With just as crappy or worse outcomes for the most part. Both systems as they exist encourage bureaucratic waste and unaccountable outcomes. In fact, for the most part, even our political class visits the US when timely and quality healthcare is needed. Both systems have rare beacons of light in a sea of expensive mediocrity or worse. Obamacare simply adds to the mess. Helps some and screws some others. Great fix (sarcasm there Bill, in case it wasn't obvious). That's your shining example? I rest my case.
Again with the talking points like a good leftist shill. Corporate profit is the only standard I bring to the discussion?? What I bring to the discussion is a concern for my children and grandchildren. A belief we need to spend wisely and efficiently to leave them a better country and society than the one we inherited. It has nothing to do with profitability, despite your wish to pigeonhole me. The money isn't endless, the dependence on government to solve the problem and avoid personal responsibility comes at a cost. You won't pay it but your descendants will.
The list of costly government boondoogles that do little but suck up dollars and votes is near endless. And yet, when I ask that question that I originally posed to you, all you liberals actually have a difficult time answering the question. You should take some time and consider that.
Did you read that column I posted for your benefit? You guys, Democrats, have diverted the potential good governance of your country in a misguided attempt to overthrow a duly elected president. Is that how you solve problems?
