2008 Financial Bailout to Date: $8.5 trillion+

• What We’ve Gotten: Failed companies being propped up; More companies lining up at the trough.

Cost of War in Iraq from 2003 to 2008: $600 billion+

• What We’ve Gotten: Dictator deposed; 29 million men, women, and children freed; Another democracy in the Middle East; Another Ally in the Middle East; Security threat eliminated.

Cost of Marshall Plan (Adjusted for Inflation): $115.3 billion

• What We Got: Rebuilt Western Europe, Communism Repelled

Cost of Louisiana Purchase (Adjusted for Inflation): $217 billion

• What We Got: About a third of the nation we know today.

Cost of Going to the Moon (Adjusted for Inflation): $237 billion

• What We Got: Well, We Went to the Moon

Cost of the Korean War (Adjusted): $454 billion

• What We Got: North Korean invasion repelled; Ally

Cost of the New Deal (Adjusted): $500 billion

• What We Got: Should be Obvious by Now

Cost of NASA To Date (Adjusted): $851.2 billion

• What We Got: Scientific Advancements; Too Much to List

Now, certainly I realize that the wars cost many thousands of lives. They’re obviously not exactly the same. But realize that we did all of that for less than what we’ve spent this year alone bailing out companies. Absolutely insane.

Update: Yes, I’m aware that much of the expenditure is a “loan”. First of all, that means it still costs us at first (we’re still printing money) with no guarantee we’ll get paid back. Second of all, we’re nowhere near done with this bailout. See: Begging Automakers.