My accountant has a way with numbers.

Roy sent the following e-mail today, subject line "What is a billion, anyway????" Here's a copy.

This is too true to be very funny. The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.
This will put the cost of the Iraq war into proper perspective…

A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.

B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.

C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.

D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.

E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at the costs for the Iraq War- you know, the one that the oil revenues that Iraq was generating was going to pay in full…..

We are spending MORE than $ 2 billion a WEEK. And, with a gross population BEFORE the war of 20 million, that works out to be a cost of some $ 1000 per week for every Man, Woman, and Child in Iraq. Oh, and before the war, their average income was some $ 3500 per YEAR. And, now- we are spending $ 50000 (or 14 times their annual wage) to keep them in worse (or at the very best- the same) conditions as before.

Just trying to keep our politicians honest (which requires more full time effort than I have available)….