SURGE SPLURGE

Its an ill wind that blows no good. - Common Wisdom

_

UNRAVELING THE MYSTERY OF GOVERNMENT

WHERE DOES ALL THAT CASH GO TO?

IRAQ SURGE YIELDS PENTAGON SPENDING SPURGE
"April 23 (Bloomberg) -- General Dynamics Corp., the largest maker of armored vehicles for the U.S. military, said first- quarter earnings rose 32 percent ... as the Iraq war lifted sales of ammunition and troop transports... Sales climbed 11 percent to $7.01 billion, aided by increased deliveries of Gulfstream business jets...The war in Iraq is boosting sales and service of vehicles built by General Dynamics including the Abrams tank and Stryker troop transport...First-quarter aerospace sales rose to $1.28 billion, from $1.09 billion, General Dynamics said today. Operating profit rose 36 percent to $236 million." - Edmond Lococo, Bloomberg.com

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aiX18tG7p2FU&refer=home

Let's see, if we assume that all aerospace sales are to the business sector, that means that total sales of $7.01 billion less aerospace sales of $1.28 billion yields $5.73 billion paid by the US taxpayer. And that is just one "defense" contractor. At $1.20 per gallon, I figure Iraq owes me 4,775,000,000 gallons of gasoline to pay for General Dynamics's effort. - 2q(Jim)

Grass Roots Philosophy

"It used to be that only death and taxes were inevitable. Now, of course, there's shipping and handling, too." - submitted by Dar, Phoenix, AZ

"Clinton's presidential library will be XXX rated. No one under 21 allowed." - Atlanta Journal via Doris Wayne, Marietta, Ga.

"Laughing helps. It's like jogging on the inside." - submitted by RWH, Country Meadows, AZ.

"Nostalgia isn't what it used to be." - submitted by Bob L., Sun City, AZ

Health Hint

The material we put in our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here years ago. Red meat is awful. Soft drinks erode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG . Vegetables can be disastrous, and none of us realizes the long-term harm caused by the germs in our drinking water. But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all and we all have , or will, eat it. Can anyone here tell me what food it is that causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?

A 75-year old man in the front row stood up and said, "Wedding cake". - submitted by Marcia, Phoenix, AZ

"Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing." - Dave Barry