As of May 2025, the U.S. national debt stands at approximately $36.2 trillion. That’s a staggering figure, equivalent to about 121% of the country’s GDP. To put it in perspective, that’s roughly $106,000 per person in the U.S.

PERSPECTIVES: The Hoover Dam, which dams the Colorado River to form Lake Mead, is one of the US’s largest water reservoirs.

It was constructed over five years (1931–1936) during the Great Depression.

The total cost of the dam was $49 million when it was built, which would translate to approximately $1.1 billion if we were to build something like it today. 

For perspective, consider that the combined cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for the United States is estimated to be between $5 trillion and $6 trillion.

Using the lower estimate, call it $5 trillion. In other words, those two wars will cost the Americans 4,500 Hoover Dams (give or take a few dozen). 

Hey, maybe Americans could simply build 4,500 Hoover Dams (roughly 90 for every US state) and then blow them all to bits; they seem to like doing that with their wealth. Watch it burn. Enjoy the show.

Lots of other things come to my mind, though, when I think of what Americans could have done with that money. I wonder why it never occurs to some Americans that they’re simply flushing their treasure down the crapper.

My mother used to say, whenever I would spend my entire allowance on bottle rockets and firecrackers,

‘Son, you’re just burning up your money.’ Yeah, point conceded, but how I loved to watch it burn! I guess some people just like a lot of noise and pretty sparks, huh

“When you elect crooks, you are not a victim, you are an accomplice.” ~ George Orwell.

Those two wars were wars of choice; no one forced Americans into them; Americans chose war over what they could have had instead.

It was a bad choice at the elections; it was an unwise choice, but it was also a choice they made with their eyes wide open.

Americans chose war. Americans want war. Lots of it. By their actions, they demonstrate that.

My dad always used to tell me: ‘If you want to know what a man’s priorities are, watch how he spends his money.’ People always find a way to afford the things they really want most. Always. Charles Aulds.

Americans chose war. Americans want war. Lots of it. By their actions and lack of interest or discernment when voting, they demonstrate that.

But I do think Americans would be far better off, instead of 14 years of war, to have built those 4,500 Hoover Dams.

CLICK ON THE US NATIONAL DEBT CLOCK IN REAL TIME TO UNDERSTAND BETTER WHY YOU STRUGGLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time

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