--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even if Bush could be forgiven for taking…" description: "\"Even if Bush could be forgiven for taking America, and much of the rest of the world, to war on false pretenses, and for misrepresenting the cost of th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/joseph-stiglitz-1351_america_even-if-bush-could-be-forgiven-for-takin_822073.jpg" --- # Even if Bush could be forgiven for taking America, and… ![“Even if Bush could be forgiven for taking America, and much of the rest of the world, to war on false pretenses, and for misrepresenting the cost of the venture, there is no excuse for how he chose to finance it. His was the first war in history paid for entirely on credit. As America went into…” quote by Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/joseph-stiglitz-1351_america_even-if-bush-could-be-forgiven-for-takin_822073.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/joseph-stiglitz-1351_america_even-if-bush-could-be-forgiven-for-takin_822073.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/25d/joseph-stiglitz-1351_america_even-if-bush-could-be-forgiven-for-takin_822073.jpg) > “Even if Bush could be forgiven for taking America, and much of the rest of the world, to war on false pretenses, and for misrepresenting the cost of the venture, there is no excuse for how he chose to finance it. His was the first war in history paid for entirely on credit. As America went into battle, with deficits already soaring from his 2001 tax cut, Bush decided to plunge ahead with yet another round of tax "relief" for the wealthy.” [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Criticizes the financing of the Iraq war through credit and tax cuts for the wealthy, arguing it was fiscally irresponsible and morally unjustified. **In simple terms:** War funded by debt and tax cuts for rich, lacking justification. Key Takeaway Demand transparent, accountable war financing and equitable fiscal policy. Themes war economics ethics public debt policy inequality Mood critical concerned Type analytical informative When to use this quote - policy analysis - public debate - academic research - advocacy work Key Concepts fiscal responsibility political accountability social justice Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens influence war financing decisions? - What alternatives exist for funding large-scale initiatives? A Different Perspective Political realities may limit immediate reforms despite moral arguments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Battle Deficits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle-deficits-481595/) [Bush Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bush-decided-481593/) [Cost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cost/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Cutting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cutting/) [Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decided/) [Deficit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deficit/) [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Finance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finance/) [Finance War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finance-war-481592/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Forgiven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiven/) [History Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history-paid-481596/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [No excuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-excuses/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Plunge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plunge/) [Pretense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretense/) [Relief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relief/) [Rounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rounds/) [Soar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soar/) [Tax cuts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tax-cuts/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Venture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/venture/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [War False](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war-false-481594/) [Wealthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealthy/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [When George W. Bush decided to save the American position in Iraq by going against the advice of all of his wise men, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-stephens/when-george-w-bush-decided-to-save-the-american-position-in-iraq-by/) [Bret Stephens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-stephens/) > [American troops and American taxpayers are shouldering a huge burden with no end in sight because Mr. Bush took us to war on false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/american-troops-and-american-taxpayers-are-shouldering-a-huge-burden/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [In the North, neither greenbacks, taxes, nor war bonds were enough to finance the war. So a national banking system was created to convert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/in-the-north-neither-greenbacks-taxes-nor-war-bonds-were-enough-to/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [I'm perfectly willing to say no more Iraqs, which means no more unilateral starting of the war on false claims, false information, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zbigniew-brzezinski/i-m-perfectly-willing-to-say-no-more-iraqs-which-means-no-more/) [Zbigniew Brzezinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zbigniew-brzezinski/) > [The first task of the Federal Reserve system would be to finance the World War. The European nations were already bankrupt, because they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eustace-mullins/the-first-task-of-the-federal-reserve-system-would-be-to-finance-the/) [Eustace Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eustace-mullins/) > [It is time to recognize a simple fact of life. Contrary to what some of my colleagues seem to believe, tax cuts do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-voinovich/it-is-time-to-recognize-a-simple-fact-of-life-contrary-to-what-some/) [George Voinovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-voinovich/) > [What Donald Trump is proposing with these massive tax cuts will result in a $20 trillion additional national debt. That will have dire consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/what-donald-trump-is-proposing-with-these-massive-tax-cuts-will/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [Tax cuts continue to benefit families, seniors, and small business owners, as evidenced by unparalleled economic growth in Nevada and across the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-porter/tax-cuts-continue-to-benefit-families-seniors-and-small-business/) [Jon Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-porter/) > [A tax cut means higher family income and higher business profits and a balanced federal budget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/a-tax-cut-means-higher-family-income-and-higher-business-profits-and/) [John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/) > [The president is 100 percent for extending the tax cuts for 98.7 percent of small businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austan-goolsbee/the-president-is-100-percent-for-extending-the-tax-cuts-for-98-7/) [Austan Goolsbee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austan-goolsbee/) > [Today's tax cuts provide yet another illustration of the Republicans' fiscally irresponsible economic policies that ignore the needs of America's middle class, students, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-tauscher/today-s-tax-cuts-provide-yet-another-illustration-of-the-republicans/) [Ellen Tauscher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-tauscher/) > [ Everything \[Ronald Reagan\] got, the tax cuts, he had Democrats outnumbering him in the House and Senate everywhere. There were certain realities that he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/everything-ronald-reagan-got-the-tax-cuts-he-had-democrats/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [You know, compromise can't be a dirty word in American politics. There's plenty to argue about. Trump administration is still talking about ridiculous tax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/you-know-compromise-can-t-be-a-dirty-word-in-american-politics-there/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [To the extent that we've got a fiscal crisis right now, part of it is prompted by a bullheaded insistence on the part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/to-the-extent-that-we-ve-got-a-fiscal-crisis-right-now-part-of-it-is/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The right wing has an ecosystem that is funded by billionaires who want tax cuts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cenk-uygur/the-right-wing-has-an-ecosystem-that-is-funded-by-billionaires-who/) [Cenk Uygur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cenk-uygur/) ## More by Joseph Stiglitz > [I grew up in a family in which political issues were often discussed, and debated intensely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/i-grew-up-in-a-family-in-which-political-issues-were-often-discussed/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [But individuals and firms spend an enormous amount of resources acquiring information, which affects their beliefs; and actions of others too affect their beliefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/but-individuals-and-firms-spend-an-enormous-amount-of-resources/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [China, with its large emerging middle class, is among the big beneficiaries of globalization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/china-with-its-large-emerging-middle-class-is-among-the-big/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Trickle-down economics is a myth. Enriching corporations - as the TPP would - will not necessarily help those in the middle, let alone those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/trickle-down-economics-is-a-myth-enriching-corporations-as-the-tpp/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Some people say we have this inequality because some people have been contributing much more to our society, and so it's fair that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/some-people-say-we-have-this-inequality-because-some-people-have-been/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [It's actually a tribute to the quality of economics teaching that they have persuaded so many generations of students to believe in so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/it-s-actually-a-tribute-to-the-quality-of-economics-teaching-that/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [In an economy, when the government spends more and invests in the economy, that money circulates, and recirculates again and again. So not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/in-an-economy-when-the-government-spends-more-and-invests-in-the/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [The laws of normal economics dictate that lower taxes combined with increased spending will lead to bigger deficits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/the-laws-of-normal-economics-dictate-that-lower-taxes-combined-with/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [A less healthy America is not going to be as productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/a-less-healthy-america-is-not-going-to-be-as-productive/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [As I noted in my Nobel lecture, an early insight in my work on the economics of information concerned the problem of appropriability -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/as-i-noted-in-my-nobel-lecture-an-early-insight-in-my-work-on-the/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [We noted the psychological problems facing many of the returning from Iraq veterans - of the 700,000 returning veterans, more than a 100,000 have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/we-noted-the-psychological-problems-facing-many-of-the-returning-from/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [World War II was really unusual, because America was in the Great Depression before. So the war did help the US economy to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/world-war-ii-was-really-unusual-because-america-was-in-the-great/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [Moreover, because we chose to finance the way by borrowing, our deficits and debt has soared, and this means we have less room for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/moreover-because-we-chose-to-finance-the-way-by-borrowing-our/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [I've always been sceptical about the notion that the market is a person you can engage in an argument with, and that that person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/i-ve-always-been-sceptical-about-the-notion-that-the-market-is-a/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) > [The striking thing about America is - it's historically, extraordinary unusual,I don't of any other instance - is that productivity of workers and wages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stiglitz/the-striking-thing-about-america-is-it-s-historically-extraordinary/) [Joseph Stiglitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) [Explore all 251 Joseph Stiglitz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stiglitz/) ## More America quotes > [The costs of the Bush-Obama wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are now estimated to run as high as $4.4 trillion - a major victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-costs-of-the-bush-obama-wars-in-iraq-and-afghanistan-are-now/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [So here's what I want you to know, and here's what I want all our men and women in uniform to know: Because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/so-here-s-what-i-want-you-to-know-and-here-s-what-i-want-all-our-men/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [ I'll smoke, I'll cough, I'll get the tumors, I'll die, deal? Thank you America. \[salutes\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/i-ll-smoke-i-ll-cough-i-ll-get-the-tumors-i-ll-die-deal-thank-you/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [America is a democracy and has no Hitler, but I am afraid for her future; there are hard times ahead for the American people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/america-is-a-democracy-and-has-no-hitler-but-i-am-afraid-for-her/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [I'm gonna bring America together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/i-m-gonna-bring-america-together/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [In the nineteenth century some parts of the world were unexplored, but there was almost no restriction on travel.:; Up to 1914 you did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/in-the-nineteenth-century-some-parts-of-the-world-were-unexplored-but/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [We need a system that serves our needs, not the needs of others. Remember, under a Trump administration it's called America first. Remember that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/we-need-a-system-that-serves-our-needs-not-the-needs-of-others/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [You live overseas, you see these exotic places and you want to know about them. But, weirdly, it also made me homesick for all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-jennings/you-live-overseas-you-see-these-exotic-places-and-you-want-to-know/) [Ken Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-jennings/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [“In American terms, the accomplishment of Genghis Khan might be understood if the United States, instead of being created by a group of educated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-weatherford/in-american-terms-the-accomplishment-of-genghis-khan-might-be/) [Jack Weatherford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-weatherford/) [Browse all 20,382 America quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Even if Bush could be forgiven for taking America, and much of the rest of the world, to war on false pretenses, and for misrepresenting the cost of the venture, there is no excuse for how he chose to finance it. His was the first war in history paid for entirely on credit. 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