During the four years of World War I, at least 8.5 million combatants were killed, many more were wounded and close to 10 million non-combatants perished. In terms of economic expenditure, the war cost between $185 billion and $200 billion, roughly equivalent to $6 trillion today.
World War II was even more devastating in terms of lost lives and economic costs, running between $4 trillion and $5 trillion in 1940 dollars. The Vietnam War cost approximately $168 billion. The Gulf War of 1990-91, though brief, ended up devouring approximately $600 billion, and the Iraq-Afghanistan wars around $8 trillion. The cost of the current conflict in Iran is expected to exceed $1 trillion.
The Iran war raises a fundamental question peace advocates have been asking since the conclusion of World War I: Shouldn’t the wealth of nations be spent improving the lives of their citizens instead of wasting it on war? Curiously, this question was conveyed in a popular bubble gum trading card marketed shortly before the advent of World War II. That card, “The Frightful Cost of War,” resonates just as loudly today as it did 88 years ago.
“The Horrors of War” collection became an instant financial success, producing some 100 million cards and netting the company more than $40,000 a week. Indeed, the collection remains the most popular non-sports card set ever manufactured. The initial set consisted of 240 cards. Another 48 were added later. These cards contained crisp depictions with colored artwork―illustrating and describing the various military conflicts and bombings of civilians then taking place—on the front of each 2.5”x 3” rectangular card.
This message was powerfully conveyed in the narrative on the back of the card. “War costs money … billions of dollars,” it declared. “War takes human lives … millions of them. War makes children old, breaks parents’ hearts, kills morale. War destroys cities, art treasure, civilization.”
Unfortunately, the set soon fell victim to the very evil it sought to eradicate. Less than a year after the complete set was produced, another global conflagration was underway―the most destructive war in human history. In this context, the message of the bubble gum card was quickly forgotten.
Charles Howlett is professor of education emeritus at Molloy University in Rockville Centre, NY.
