Where do you spend $825 billion? Part One
a) $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts.
I’m all for supporting the arts, but I would like to know how this money is spent. Are we building new museums or art schools? Or are we paying ridiculous sums of money to “artists” that would be better served by being forced to get a “real” job?
b) $400 million to study climate change.
Understanding the how and why of climate change is important. However, I do hope a good portion of this money is going to developing ways of adapting and coping with those changes.
c) $200 million to revitalize the National Mall, including planting new sod.
Not so much. I detest the infatuation our country has with LAWNS. Plant some native flowers, trees, and shrubs to show the world we’re proud of our natural heritage. And, sensible enough to not waste vital resources on vanity.
d) $1.1 billion to allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a permanent board to ration health care services, a precursor to universal health care.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to spend that money on providing the services? Forming a board seems like a stall tactic to me. I’ve only been without health insurance/ doctors for 7 years so what do I know?
e) Hundreds of millions of dollars for contraceptives and family planning services through Medicaid.
No exact number? I hear that Republicans killed this provision anyway. They love kids so much they want all of us poor people to have more kids than we can possibly support. Just don’t ask them to help support those kids with food, clothes, healthcare or educations.
f) $650 million dollars for additional digital TV converter box coupons.
Seriously? Maybe we should consider reading a book instead?
g) $166 billion in direct aid to help states pay their bills.
Since California is being forced to issue IOUs instead of checks to it’s citizens, I can see where the pols might want to at least appear like they’re thinking of the people back home in their individual states.
h) $13 billion for reading programs.
$650 million to encourage watching tv, but only 13 to help people with reading? Am I the only one who thinks that is totally backwards?
i) $15.6 billion to increase the maximum annual Pell grant (for college students) by $500 from $4,360 to $4,860.
Wish it was more, but honestly, even a college degree may not land you a decent job these days. I know plenty of people with degrees that gained them absolutely nothing in the job market.
to be continued tomorrow…
March 26th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Do you guys have a recommendation section, i’d like to suggest some stuff