--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I wouldn't have voted for the war in…" description: "\"I wouldn't have voted for the war in Iraq, which has cost us trillions we could have been spending on a carbon-free economy, affordable college, and si..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/kevin-de-leon-7780_college_i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-ira_1865609.jpg" --- # I wouldn't have voted for the war in Iraq, which has cost… ![“I wouldn't have voted for the war in Iraq, which has cost us trillions we could have been spending on a carbon-free economy, affordable college, and single-payer health care.” quote by Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/kevin-de-leon-7780_college_i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-ira_1865609.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/kevin-de-leon-7780_college_i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-ira_1865609.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/kevin-de-leon-7780_college_i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-ira_1865609.jpg) > “I wouldn't have voted for the war in Iraq, which has cost us trillions we could have been spending on a carbon-free economy, affordable college, and single-payer health care.” [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Critiques war spending, urging reallocation to climate, education, and health priorities. **In simple terms:** War costs could fund essential public services. Key Takeaway Redirect funds to societal needs. Themes politics economics environment healthcare education Mood critical concerned Type policy advocacy When to use this quote - government budgeting - climate initiatives - healthcare reform - education funding Key Concepts public policy budget allocation social justice Questions to Reflect On - How would reallocating war funds impact climate action? - What barriers exist to shifting spending priorities? A Different Perspective Political opposition may limit budget flexibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Health care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health-care/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [I wouldn't have voted to prosecute 13-year-olds as adults.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-wouldn-t-have-voted-to-prosecute-13-year-olds-as-adults/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [The progress in Iraq has not been without cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virgil-goode/the-progress-in-iraq-has-not-been-without-cost/) [Virgil Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virgil-goode/) > [It's going to cost trillions of dollars to rework the energy sources all over the world. Were going to have to move away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-turner/it-s-going-to-cost-trillions-of-dollars-to-rework-the-energy-sources/) [Ted Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-turner/) > [We need to cut unnecessary weapons programs like the F-35 fighter plane that cost trillions of dollars and don't even work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raja-krishnamoorthi/we-need-to-cut-unnecessary-weapons-programs-like-the-f-35-fighter/) [Raja Krishnamoorthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raja-krishnamoorthi/) > [ He \[george W. Bush\] lived up - well, he was someone that I wouldn't have voted for. His policies were not mine. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elton-john/he-george-w-bush-lived-up-well-he-was-someone-that-i-wouldn-t-have/) [Elton John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elton-john/) > [I wouldn't have voted in favour of Brexit if I was able to vote.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/i-wouldn-t-have-voted-in-favour-of-brexit-if-i-was-able-to-vote/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [Many of us believe that we need health care reform. That being said - Americans felt like they weren't being listened to. There were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/many-of-us-believe-that-we-need-health-care-reform-that-being-said/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [We have offshored a lot of our industry for critical supplies, critical health care supplies, and critical medicines to save money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-bright/we-have-offshored-a-lot-of-our-industry-for-critical-supplies/) [Rick Bright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-bright/) > [When the government pays, health care's lack of affordability becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. In health care, as in other things, government is the high-cost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-kling/when-the-government-pays-health-care-s-lack-of-affordability-becomes/) [Arnold Kling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-kling/) > [You know, we can't beat ISIS. We can't do anything. We can't take care of our vets. We can't have good health care. "Obama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/you-know-we-can-t-beat-isis-we-can-t-do-anything-we-can-t-take-care/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [One reason for the tremendous increase in health-care costs in the U.S. is managerial neglect of the "hotel services" by the people who dominate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/one-reason-for-the-tremendous-increase-in-health-care-costs-in-the-u/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“the higher the psychological safety in a unit, the fewer errors they made. Why? In the units that lacked psychological safety, health care professionals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-m-grant/the-higher-the-psychological-safety-in-a-unit-the-fewer-errors-they/) [Adam M. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-m-grant/) > [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/) [Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/) > [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/) [Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/) > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) ## More by Kevin de Leon > [The D.C. playbook is obsolete. It's time for the people of California to bring the agenda to Washington, not the other way around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/the-d-c-playbook-is-obsolete-it-s-time-for-the-people-of-california/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [We can't cross our fingers and hope that President Donald Trump can 'learn and change.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-can-t-cross-our-fingers-and-hope-that-president-donald-trump-can/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I'm not into political gamesmanship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-m-not-into-political-gamesmanship/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [California Democrats - we fight on the front lines - we don't equivocate on the sidelines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/california-democrats-we-fight-on-the-front-lines-we-don-t-equivocate/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [We will not lift a single finger or spend a single cent to be a cog in the Trump deportation machine, and we won't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/we-will-not-lift-a-single-finger-or-spend-a-single-cent-to-be-a-cog/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [While we need to provide leadership and stability to the world, we should do that through diplomacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/while-we-need-to-provide-leadership-and-stability-to-the-world-we/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [Unlike Washington, the California legislature has proved that cooperation is both possible and essential to successful policymaking, while stubborn absolutism will have you trailing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/unlike-washington-the-california-legislature-has-proved-that/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [My mother passed away young - she died from ovarian cancer at just 54 years old. Her sacrifices for my sisters and I evoke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/my-mother-passed-away-young-she-died-from-ovarian-cancer-at-just-54/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I grew up in the streets of San Diego, and I love this city dearly. I love this city. San Diego is my home.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-grew-up-in-the-streets-of-san-diego-and-i-love-this-city-dearly-i/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I know - firsthand - that California works best when everyone has the opportunity to succeed. It's a lesson that's hard to learn from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-know-firsthand-that-california-works-best-when-everyone-has-the/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [It is erroneous and profoundly irresponsible to suggest that up to three million undocumented immigrants living in America are dangerous criminals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/it-is-erroneous-and-profoundly-irresponsible-to-suggest-that-up-to/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [I don't believe that all folks who supported Donald Trump are racist. I think that there was a lot of economic anxiety, there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-don-t-believe-that-all-folks-who-supported-donald-trump-are-racist/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [In California, we celebrate our diversity. We celebrate who we are because we're proud of who we are; we're proud of where our families…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/in-california-we-celebrate-our-diversity-we-celebrate-who-we-are/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [What we have done dramatically in California is lead the entire nation. For example, we have created more jobs in clean energy in California…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/what-we-have-done-dramatically-in-california-is-lead-the-entire/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) > [Yes, we absolutely need to eliminate the single-use plastic bag, but we don't have to eliminate the jobs of hardworking Californians to accomplish this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/yes-we-absolutely-need-to-eliminate-the-single-use-plastic-bag-but-we/) [Kevin de Leon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) [Explore all 87 Kevin de Leon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/) ## More College quotes > [I made, like, five movies while I was in college. I think they just weren't memorable movies. 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They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/what-s-the-best-thing-about-being-in-college-good-teachers-they/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Some people, you know, should just go to college and do what they do and have a great job and not worry about trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/some-people-you-know-should-just-go-to-college-and-do-what-they-do/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [Children should finish school and even go to college if they can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/children-should-finish-school-and-even-go-to-college-if-they-can/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [I was totally sober in college and really, really focused. I just took the time when other people might be partying and just made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-flay/i-was-totally-sober-in-college-and-really-really-focused-i-just-took/) [K. Flay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-flay/) > [In college we didn't pass block the way they do in the pros - they played the I-formation at Wisconsin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-webster/in-college-we-didn-t-pass-block-the-way-they-do-in-the-pros-they/) [Mike Webster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-webster/) > [Plant flowers in others' gardens and your life becomes a bouquet! Submitted by Lisa Letto, Coordinator, Nutrition Resource and Volunteer Centre, College of Pharmacy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rabindranath-tagore/plant-flowers-in-others-gardens-and-your-life-becomes-a-bouquet/) [Rabindranath Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rabindranath-tagore/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [Doing away with separate black colleges meets resistance from alumni and other blacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constance-baker-motley/doing-away-with-separate-black-colleges-meets-resistance-from-alumni/) [Constance Baker Motley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constance-baker-motley/) > [My son going to college is a big milestone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-gore/my-son-going-to-college-is-a-big-milestone/) [Frank Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-gore/) > [The reason I got into acting was not to explore myself. I was a reader, I didn't care about acting. I got into it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/campbell-scott/the-reason-i-got-into-acting-was-not-to-explore-myself-i-was-a-reader/) [Campbell Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/campbell-scott/) [Browse all 7,391 College quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I wouldn't have voted for the war in Iraq, which has cost us trillions we could have been spending on a carbon-free economy, affordable college, and single-payer health care.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kevin de Leon" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-iraq-which-has-cost-us-trillions/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "College" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-iraq-which-has-cost-us-trillions/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/kevin-de-leon-7780_college_i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-ira_1865609.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/kevin-de-leon-7780_college_i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-ira_1865609.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/26c/kevin-de-leon-7780_college_i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-ira_1865609.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I wouldn't have voted for the war in Iraq, which has cost us trillions we could have been spending on a…” — Kevin de Leon", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kevin de Leon", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-de-leon/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I wouldn't have voted for the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-iraq-which-has-cost-us-trillions/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-de-leon/i-wouldn-t-have-voted-for-the-war-in-iraq-which-has-cost-us-trillions/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```