A Lesson in Econ 101 for Sen. John McCain

George Bush, John McCain, and their conservative allies believe that the Iraq war has been worth the cost. About two-thirds of Americans disagree, according to a recent poll. Apparently, conservatives don't understand "opportunity cost"—the basic economic concept that when you choose to buy one thing, you can't use that money to buy something else.

The cost of Iraq in lives lost and scarred is incalculable. It has also had staggering economic costs here at home.