A very basic business question.

[budfox]

In the 1960s, the USA spent around $25bn on their Apollo space program. At the time, they were huge complaints that the money could have been better spent on other things like health care or reducing child poverty.

Now that $25bn didn't vanish in to thin air, it was used to pay companies, who paid people, who bought things with their wages.....

Now that's just one example, but it seems to me that in such examples, the money just gets moved around, and spent many times over.

So why were there protests? Pretty much all of the money would surely end up back with the government via taxation, and they could spend it all over again.

Comments about what may be my complete misunderstanding of business are very welcome.

[budfox]

Thanks all, interesting answers.