1. CVN-78 Gerald R. Ford – first of new class of super-aircraft carrier “Ford Class” – hull laid 2007 – $8 billion (not including $5 billion R&D) will carry >75 fixed wing jets. powered by 2-AIB nuclear reactors.
2. F-35 Lightning II fighter jet under development – cost per jet (in 2006) $83 million.
3. Queen Elizabeth Class carrier – Royal Navy – to replace the Invincible-class light carriers – will be equivalent to US Nimitz class carriers and carry 36 F-35’s. Current estimate on cost of carrier ?3.7 billion – not nuclear powered.
Estimate of JDRF Canada in a request to the Government of Canada of research funding sufficient to bring about a cure for Type 1 diabetes = $125 million.
So next time you see a picture of an aircraft carrier or a fighter jet or even a tank (M1A2 Abrams = $4.3 million) remember it represents money that didn’t cure diabetes or cancer or cystic fibrosis or Alzeheimers or…or….or…
It’s another reason to sniffle when you see a kid selling lemonade to raise money for JDRF
Now I realize we need these advanced weapon systems to protect ourselves from all those other advanced weapons systems out there the bad guys bought at a clearance sale from the people who are designing even newer ones for us but, gee whiz, maybe if we all stopped…Of course, that is just silly, fuzzy headed idealist stinkin thinkin. But maybe if we diverted just a little of the money we spend on thinking up new ways to blow people up better, faster and from further away…?