Chart of the day: Solyndra loan guarantee vs Pentagon 'boondoggles'

Solyndra's business model put the company on track to fail. The changing dynamics of the global solar market accelerated its demise. The Obama Administration's decision to award a flagship $535 million loan guarantee raises more than a few red flags -- which Jon Stewart of The Daily Showput into context this week. Still, it's worth putting the Solyndra loan guarantee into some perspective.

Christopher Mims, a Smart Planet contributing editor and blogger at Grist among other pubs, put out this request via Twitter earlier today:

Somebody, please: Infographic comparing $500 million spent on Solyndra to multi-billion $ spent on countless failed military projects.

Well, it's been answered by Philip Bump. Here's a chart comparing the Solyndra loan guarantee to what the New York Times called the Pentagon's "biggest boondoogles." The dollar amounts are in billions. Be warned: This won't make you feel better.

Chart, Philip Bump; Photo: Solyndra

Related:

• John Stewart on Solyndra: 'That custom-tailored Obama scandal you ordered is finally here'
• Why Solyndra failed and the DOE loan program is next

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com