Sunday, February 9, 2014

What $14 Billion Could Buy Today

Obviously, these are rounded numbers, but the scale is roughly accurate, even with regards to adjustments by fiscal year, geography, and so on.  Since very little is ever said about this sort of comparison and contrast, it likely indicates that most humans are comfortable with these priorities.  Enjoy.
  • 1 new Nimitz class aircraft carrier (USS Gerald R. Ford)
  • 39 F-22 Raptor jets (note 1)
  • 65 completed MAX light rail systems (Portland, Oregon) (note 2)
  • 9,333 miles of water supply pipe x 1m dia. (note 3)
  • 280,000 artificial legs/limbs (note 4)
  • 1,400,000 months of cancer treatment / chemotherapy (note 5)
  • 13,725,490,196 miles of "standard" Internet cable (land-route, rural area) (note 6)


Notes
  1. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-advanced-fighter-woes-20130616-dto,0,7588480.htmlstory#axzz2stBhSgaU
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX_Light_Rail
  3. http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2012/finalwebsite/solution/glaciers.shtml
  4. http://www.disabled-world.com/assistivedevices/prostheses/prosthetics-costs.php
  5. http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/05/09/cost-of-chemotherapy
  6. http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Rural-life-carries-2-647-cost-for-cable-2227166.php (based on $2647 cost for 2583 feet estimation)

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