Reply #29: not exactly.

[northernlights]

Without full employment and better wealth distribution, there is no economy. Concentration of wealth in a shrinking percentage of the population means a downward spiral in demand. No demand equals no reason for businesses to hire. Shrinking demand equals incentive for business to fire. Shrinking demand equals a shrinking economy and no demand equals no economy.

However, healthcare IS a huge drain on our system and private resources -- and we needed health CARE reform, not a health INSURANCE bailout.
The health INSURANCE reform is exerting additional downward pressure on demand as health insurers crank their prices and companies increasingly pass the burden onto the former middle class.

However, the wars are a HUGE drain on our economy as well. Money that could better spent on re-building our infrastructure (which would make us more competitive) and educating our citizens (which also would make us more competitive) is instead being spent destroying other countries' infrastructures and murdering their citizens. Stupid move of stupid thugs.

And where are you coming up with the 1% figure? I've *never* seen either military spending or war spending showing up as 1% of any budget. That number looks pulled out of a hat to me....please do link to a source.

Why do I find it hard to believe you are a female from the UK?