Strength in Unity

What is the population of Turkey?

As of December 31, 2022, it was 85 million 279 thousand 533 people.

The population growth rate was 1.1 per thousand in 2023. If we calculate, we can say that we are now 85 million 375 thousand people.

According to TurkStat, the average family household size in Turkey decreased to 3.17 in 2022. 

In 2008, this number was 4 people. 

Our families are getting smaller as the years go by. For example, we are four siblings. My fathers had five siblings.

In this case, if we think that the average household size has decreased to 3 people this year, we can estimate the number of families in our country as 28 million 500 thousand at most. Write this number down.

I have tried to calculate the number of families as high as possible, because I am going to use this number in the calculation I am about to make, and I want the result to be as low as possible. 

I want the result to be as low as possible, so that nobody will be disappointed.

***

We recently sent a Turkish citizen into space and I don't know exactly how much money we actually spent, but according to the press reports we spent at least 55 million dollars.

Of course, it is very important that we finally sent a Turkish citizen into space. 

55 million dollars is not a big amount of money like billions of dollars. At least it doesn't sound like such a big amount of money.

Still, I wondered if I could calculate how much money we would be talking about if our state had distributed this money to each family instead of spending so much money.

That's why I calculated the number of families above, and I wanted the result to be as low as possible, because there really are families in our country with very little income.

I understand, you are probably saying, what is 55 million dollars compared to all the money the government spends here and there, but I am just curious, I wanted to reduce this cost to a value that we can fully understand and perceive.

If we calculate it on a family basis, I thought it would at least come down to a level we know.

***

On Friday, the dollar exchange rate was 30.84. 

In this case, should we first multiply 55 million dollars by the exchange rate? 

Or should we first calculate how many dollars per family?

There is no difference, math will give the right result either way, but if we go the first way, we will understand how much space travel costs us as a country in Turkish currency. 

So I'm going to go the second way.

Of course, this is going to be a lot of money. 

We probably won't be able to comprehend what such a big amount of money means.

So let's first try to understand how much money we paid for space travel. When I say understand, I'm talking about physical dimensions, so I actually want to be able to perceive the size of this money.

Is it so big that we can just pick it up and shake it, or is it, I don't know, a bag full? What is this amount of money like?

If we calculate, 55 million dollars in Turkish currency is 1 billion 696 million 200 thousand liras.

Does this value mean anything to you?

Can you imagine how big 1 billion Turkish liras is, let alone its fractions?

Even in dollars alone, if we calculate the decks of 100 100 dollar bills each, that is 5500 decks. 

Does anyone know what 5500 bundles of dollars look like?

100 dollars weighs about 1 gram. 

55 million dollars is 550 thousand 100-dollar bills. 

In other words, that is 550 kilos of money at 1 gram each, and that is American dollars! 

The paper dimensions were 156 mm x 66.3 mm. The thickness is 0.10922 mm, according to the internet. 

So we can say that a deck of 100 100 dollar bills would be at least 11 mm high. 

Let's say a deck would be 16 cm x 7 cm x 1.5 cm. 

If we put 5500 decks together, that's about 1 m3 of money (0.924 m3). Let's say one meter by one meter and let's say one meter in height.

These calculations are all in 100 US dollars. 

If I had calculated this in Turkish money, it would have been 15 times more. 

Because 100 American dollars is worth at least 15 200 Turkish liras. If you don't believe it, calculate it yourself at today's exchange rates.

15 m3 of Turkish currency! With the biggest clippings we have!

That's 8 tons and 250 kilos in Turkish money!

That's really a lot of money.

It won't fit in a bag or on a lap.

***

Let's come to the calculation of how much money we would have to distribute if we tried to distribute this money per family instead of sending a Turkish citizen to space.

We said it cost 1 billion 696 million 200 thousand liras, didn't we, space travel in Turkish money?

Some people call it a touristic trip, and I think it was a touristic trip, but on the other hand, it was a trip that had to be done one way or another. 

My criticism is more about the fact that this trip was made for electoral purposes and the point of view that while we have not done anything in the country for so many years on this subject, we can pay for it and we can send our citizens to space.

Otherwise, while doing all these calculations, I am proud that we have finally sent a Turkish citizen into space.

I wish we could send them with our own means

***

Yes, let's finish the math! 

How many families did we say we have? 28 million 500 thousand families!

When we divide 1 billion 696 million 200 thousand liras by this number of families, we get 60 liras per household!

That's not a lot of money, we said it was tons of money, but when we calculated per family, the result of the calculation turned out to be so little.

To tell you the truth, I gave it all to charity! That's the price of four bagels at 15 liras!

If you say bagel costs 10 liras here, that's six bagels. 

We can just not eat bagels as a family for once, it's not like we are going to starve to death!

I think you will also accept this little money!

Not other things, but at least this. Otherwise, this government has many flaws that I personally do not forgive! Even making this issue an election material is unforgivable.

But if we talk only on this issue, we sent one of our citizens into space! 

Can anything be more beautiful than that? And after all this time!

We are proud as a country, we wish we had sent him earlier. 

And the cost per household was really cheap!

***

Look, I have learned a lesson from this account. 

We are a very big country. If we come together, we can do so much more!

A space trip costs tons of money, but when you calculate it per family, it actually costs nothing.

Can you imagine what we could do if we tried to do something together? 

No one can stand in our way!

***

So why can't we do something together?

Why are we so polarized?

Who polarized us?

Polarized for what?

I think you should think about this! 

I think those people are on the wrong path.

Let me end this article by saying that strength comes from unity.

Here's to many more space travels with our own means.

Love and respect to everyone from Moscow.