Ask HN: What can we achieve with 1.6 trillion dollar?

Re:Ask HN: What can we achieve with 1.6 trillion dollar? by BjoernKW on Monday December 05, 2016 @08:34AM (#13105183)

> It is also unrelated to dismissing military spending wholecloth as nothing but a waste of resources.

I'm not sure this was the OP's intention.

I see this more as thought experiment in terms of "Mankind doesn't actually lack financial resources.". Ideas and measures that'd improve the quality of life often are bluntly shot down with the argument that we don't have the financial resources for implementing them.

We do have those resources. We just need to use them purposefully.

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Re:Ask HN: What can we achieve with 1.6 trillion dollar? by Mz on Monday December 05, 2016 @01:35PM (#13107924)

It may not have been their conscious intent, but it is the implicit assumption behind the question. Otherwise, the question could have been framed differently, such as:

"I think that is excessive and we could readily cut it by 10%, leaving 16 billion (or whatever -- not checking my math here) to put towards other causes. What good could governments do with that amount?"

"We spend X amount on (presumed frivolous expense, such as gold jewelry, haute couture or backyard swimming pools). What might be a better use of those funds if we could convince people to spend it differently?"

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