[Sudetenland]

Agreed, do we really need to spend $7 BN/ship right now? I mean, that’s almost what we spend on an aircraft carrier right now.

[trailhkr1]

Agreed, do we really need to spend $7 BN/ship right now?

We are spending what 2.79 billion per month in Afghanistan right now??

I would rather spend the money on technology and at least put Americans to work.

[katana]

In a conflict with China (or even Iran) it is possible that our aircraft carriers will turn out to be what battleships were in WWII. Large and vulnerable anachronisms of the "Last War". I get worried whenever I hear that they have positioned a carrier inside constricted waters like the Persian Gulf or the Taiwan Straits to make a "statement".

In terms of investment, on top of the cost of the carrier itself and its aircraft one has to count the cost of all the supporting vessels in the carrier group whose task is to protect her. I would rather see funding go toward Stealth, Rail Guns, Chemical Laser anti-aircraft and anti-missile technology, etc. than one more carrier group. The idea of small, flexible, nearly invisible, and packed with incredible firepower sounds like the way forward in the "next" war.

[rmlew]

It doesn't cost 7 Billion per ship. There has been billions in R&D spent so far. The cost per unit is sky high because we are building 2 or 3. If we built 12, the costs would be much less.
These are essentially battleships. Just wait for CGX.