What $29 bn could have bought the US

What does $29 bn buy you these days? In the US, it apparently buys a war against Iran - victory, never mind peace or even a decent press release, costing way extra. For the same price, one could acquire 29 bn McChickens (adding to America's obesity statistics). Or, fund every American's Netflix subscription until the end of time, ensuring the country fights only over who gets to skip the intro.

$29 bn could rebuild every pothole in America twice over - and maybe every gaddha in India at least once - with enough left to instal mood lighting on major thoroughfares. It could buy a controlling stake in Manchester United, even though it may not be the best buy. It could pay off the student loans of every humanities graduate and postgraduate, allowing them to finally afford artisanal macchiato while explaining why wars are absurd. Instead, the money has been spent on missiles, drones, and the privilege of discovering that Iran is a stubborn, sovereign state. Pentagon's and Lockheed Martin's accountants, no doubt, are thrilled: nothing balances a spreadsheet like a few billion vanishing into the blue. Sure, for $29 bn, the US could have purchased goodwill, infrastructure or - dare one say without coming across as a woke left-lib - universal healthcare. Instead, it has bought the US headlines, inflation, petro paranoia.... But priorities are priorities, right?