IMAGINE THAT

$87 billion more for the war in Iraq? It should bother me that we are spending so much money for something so pointless. It should bother me even more that we spent so much for something so destructive. But it is not the pointlessness or wickedness that bothers me.

What really bothers me? The total lack of imagination!

Imagine what you could do with $87 billion! Really imagine it. Stop and think about what you could do if you suddenly had $87 billion to do with as you please.

That amount would provide high-speed rail among all major U.S. cities. A positive transformation of the way we live and consume global resources all at once forever.

Some argue that there was much suffering in Iraq that needed to be stopped. How much suffering could you stop with $87 billion? How much joy could that buy? That is the annual income of the poorest billion people on Earth!

Three million human beings die and tens of millions are permanently disabled each year on Earth because of lack of safe drinking water. Far less than $87 billion would provide safe drinking water for every person on Earth in perpetuity.

Despite the billions spent on war technology, very little is spent on pure science and exploration. Learning about the fundamental nature of our universe and our place in it is a priority for me.

Doing bad things is bad. Not having the imagination and leadership to do great things is far worse. Don't just oppose spending money on bad things. Start making a list of what you would do with $87 billion. Let your imagination soar and demand a better world!

Robert Bernstein