I know it ain't Friday yet....
Apr. 20th, 2011 11:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cyranoBut here comes IFIAYAQD! anyway.
You've probably heard that Boehner and the House have decided that, since their priorities in office are reducing the deficit and creating jobs, they need to spend (up to) half a million dollars defending the Defence of Marriage Act. Maya at Feministing notes that there are literally countless other things the money would be better spent on besides an item that nearly five percent of Americans consider a priority. Her ideas are under the cut. What would *you* like to see half a million dollars of taxpayer money spent on?
Put it towards family planning programs. Result: Save the government nearly $2 million down the road. Prevent about 520 unintended pregnancies and nearly 220 abortions.
Put it towards the Pell Grant program. Result: Help 100 additional students from low-income families get a higher education.
Put it towards SNAP, the federal food stamps program. Result: Ensure about 1,700 families of four living in poverty don’t go hungry this month. Stimulate over $900,000 in local economic activity.
Donate it to a few randomly selected bars in the U.S. Result: 125,000 lucky Americans unexpectedly get a free pint after a long day at work.
Commission an artist to create a paper mache sculpture with the dollar bills. Result: DC gets some new public art. Local artist gets a job. Government doesn’t defend discrimination.
You've probably heard that Boehner and the House have decided that, since their priorities in office are reducing the deficit and creating jobs, they need to spend (up to) half a million dollars defending the Defence of Marriage Act. Maya at Feministing notes that there are literally countless other things the money would be better spent on besides an item that nearly five percent of Americans consider a priority. Her ideas are under the cut. What would *you* like to see half a million dollars of taxpayer money spent on?
Put it towards family planning programs. Result: Save the government nearly $2 million down the road. Prevent about 520 unintended pregnancies and nearly 220 abortions.
Put it towards the Pell Grant program. Result: Help 100 additional students from low-income families get a higher education.
Put it towards SNAP, the federal food stamps program. Result: Ensure about 1,700 families of four living in poverty don’t go hungry this month. Stimulate over $900,000 in local economic activity.
Donate it to a few randomly selected bars in the U.S. Result: 125,000 lucky Americans unexpectedly get a free pint after a long day at work.
Commission an artist to create a paper mache sculpture with the dollar bills. Result: DC gets some new public art. Local artist gets a job. Government doesn’t defend discrimination.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-04-21 01:22 pm (UTC)The less practical side of me would like to give it to gay couples for their weddings.
The completely frivolous side of me would like to use the money to purchase all the cans of Silly String that they can get for half a million dollars, and then have people run through Congress spraying everyone with it. (The people would have to be volunteers so that we can purchase more Silly String, but I don't think we'll have much trouble with that.) I'm open to using some of the money on confetti instead, or maybe even squirt guns (though I'd be afraid that some more aggressive volunteers might put something stronger than water in the guns), so long as the end result is a nice big mess. DC still gets new art, albeit temporary art, the public gets to watch the spectacle (thus justifying C-SPAN's entire existence), and we find out which of our congresscritters take themselves entirely too seriously (hint: all of them) and need to be replaced.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-22 02:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-04-22 04:27 am (UTC)In fact, it's a *good* Friday. Cut loose!