# Rate The Success of These "Wars"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-the-success-of-these-wars/581204>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 8, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-the-success-of-these-wars/581204 "2011-05-08T23:08:22Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rate-the-success-of-these-wars/581204/1 "2011-05-08T23:08:22Z")

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US politicians seem to love the term “war”…for expensive, ill-defined, indeterminate efforts…most of which have been of uncertain efficacy.  
I have opened the thread to discuss some of the “wars”…I hope to learn how much these things have cost, as well. Here goes:  
-The “War On Poverty” (1964-?). Possible cost-$11,000 Billion. Results: poverty remains in the USA (about 14% of the population adjudged poor). My guess is that this “war” was not worth the cost.  
-The “War on Cancer” (1971-?). Richard Nixon decided that cancer could be conquered in a massive campaign. It seems like the effort yielded results…was it worth the cost?  
-The “War on Terror” (2000-present). We have blown over $1 trillion on wars in Iraq, Afghanistan,Libya, and other places. We still have terror events-was it worth it?  
-The “war on Smoking” (not sure about the dates). Seems to have had some success-but the government rakes in huge money in tobacco taxes-so no real success here.  
-The “war on Drugs”(dates uncertain). Huge costs-hndreds of thousands in jail-drug use is higher than ever. I think this war was a failure.  
Have I missed any wars?