Business News and Information

One of the biggest stories of today is almost a non-sequitur. The Center for Public Integrity, has presented evidence supporting something most rational Americans already knew, that George Bush told bald-faced lies to drum up support for his bid to invade Iraq and oust Saddam Hussein.

The report says Bush and his administration “waged a carefully orchestrated campaign of misinformation about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein’s Iraq.” Well-duh.

What I find deeply troubling is how nonchalant we’ve all taken this news. No public outcry for impeachment, no angry mob clamoring for vigilant justice…wait no I take back that part about angry mobs and vigilantism, wouldn’t want my phone calls tapped for being anti-liars-in-office Bush.

To stop this post from verging on tirade I’m going to swing this post back to business.

War is profitable, at least for everyone except Iraqis. My personal experience has told me this. A few days ago I needed to purchase a new car battery. Accustomed to the rather steady price $50, give or take, I was aghast when the dude at the discount auto parts store told me the battery I wanted was $120.

After pushing my face back from the contortions it had shaped into I chocked out, “Are you serious?” He looked at me wryly and said “all the lead is going to bullets now.”

Wait a minute; I thought the troops were pelting the enemy with rocks after expending their daily ration of 3 bullets. Could lead really be all that expensive?

The answer to that is yes. After reaching it’s peak in August 2007 the price of lead, the best performing commodity in 2007, has dropped, though not much. That means lead performed better than Microsoft, Apple, gold, everything. A well done article from the International Herald Tribune explains things the lead situation nicely.