$3 trillion is the projected cost of the Iraq War according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and Harvard lecturer Linda Bilmes. I don't even really understand what all those zeroes mean, and apparently the folks at $3 Trillion Shopping Spree think the rest of you don't either.
Here's what I bought on my shopping spree (although I still had about $200 billion in pocket change left over)...
- Achieve the Millenium Development Goals by 2015 (8 goals which address poverty and hunger, education, gender equality, child mortality, maternal health, disease, environmental sustainability, and the development of a global partnership)
- Worldwide Kyoto Protocol compliance
- End our dependence on foreign oil
- Plant 1 million trees (x 10)
- End Third-World debt
- Rebuild African habitat for a threatened species (x 10)
- Finish repairing the damage done by Hurricane Katrina
- Free bus system in 100 largest cities (x 5)
- One year non-violent leadership training for 10 million leaders
- Cure a deadly disease (x 10)
- Energy independent home
- Paris apartment
- Mountain cabin
- A maid everyday for 100 years
- Organic garden kit
- Tesla electric vehicle
- Appalosa horse
- Canoe
- Pedal kayak
- Tandem touring bicycle (x 2)
- and a private concert by U2
Give it a try... see if you can spend the whole shebang. It's surprisingly difficult.
Perhaps a private island fortress tickles your fancy? How about footing the bill for a four year degree for 20 million students? You could start an illegal war that kills a million people, is opposed by 2/3 of your citizens and plunges your country into recession. Or maybe you'd like to buy a few NFL teams instead? (You can afford them all, but feel free to just pick your favourites.)
I'd love to hear from you in the comments if you try it out!
3 comments:
This is very interesting indeed. I like your choices though Mel... very you-ish. Lots of good-for-the-world things and a few fun things too! If only, huh? :) I haven't done it, but I'm interested in trying
Thanks, Aditi. I'll check it out!
It is a challenge, Mandi... I'm really curious about other people's experiences with it, so be sure to let me know all about it!
I don't think it would be possible to spend it without including good-for-the world stuff! Even if you bought one of Oprah's $50 million mansions, a secret island fortress, Microsoft, Google, AND Apple... and the entire country of Italy (!), you still wouldn't break into even 1% of the $3 trillion.
Crazy, huh?
Ooooooooh! I want Italy!! Pick me! Pick me!
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