Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Tom Coburn's ever popular collection for some Christmas reading......
Our nation currently faces many challenges; a shortage of poetry in our nation‘s zoos, however, is rarely cited as one of them. It is not widely viewed as an example of our nation‘s crumbling infrastructure or a contributor to our national economic crisis. Nor is it a dangerous disease in need of curing.
Nevertheless, a federal grant program has directed a million dollars from the public coffers to infuse zoos around the United States with snippets of poetry.
Hence, the Little Rock (Ark.) Zoo now touts a sign sharing a bit of wisdom from Hans Christian Andersen: ―Just living is not enough, said the butterfly. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower. Zoos in Chicago, New Orleans, Milwaukee, and Jacksonville, Florida, will also sport bits of poetry, thanks to the U.S. taxpayer.
You occasionally hear some of these things but it's eye opening to see a laundry list like that. These are the it's "only a few million or billion" expenditures.
I can't decide which is my favorite example of government waste: Studying the World of Warcraft and other games, the Grateful Dead Archive, the Study of Internet Dating, the streetcar that travels the same route as the subway train, studying male prostitutes in Vietnam, the bus statue in Reno, NV, the Woodstock Film Festival, the Fox News and MSNBC Study, BUT I think this one is my favorite: Study of Why Political Candidates Make Vague Statements.
I can't decide which is my favorite example of government waste: Studying the World of Warcraft and other games, the Grateful Dead Archive,
You know what's weird? I'm a librarian, and earlier this year I saw a job listing at UC Santa Cruz for "Librarian/Archivist for Grateful Dead archive project." OMG, I thought that was the coolest job ever - especially since I also happen to be a musician, and know Jerry Garcia's daughter personally (through my orchestra). Unfortunately I wasn't qualified enough to apply, since they wanted someone with archival experience (I'm strictly reference/youth)... funny that made the list, though.
But they WERE a huge part of modern musical history, and the government has always funded special arts projects. People love to complain about that spending, but they'd cry even louder if all public arts suddenly disappeared... plus, we all know art/music is subjective, so what's silly to one might be life-changing for another.
You know what's weird? I'm a librarian, and earlier this year I saw a job listing at UC Santa Cruz for "Librarian/Archivist for Grateful Dead archive project." OMG, I thought that was the coolest job ever - especially since I also happen to be a musician, and know Jerry Garcia's daughter personally (through my orchestra). Unfortunately I wasn't qualified enough to apply, since they wanted someone with archival experience (I'm strictly reference/youth)... funny that made the list, though.
But they WERE a huge part of modern musical history, and the government has always funded special arts projects. People love to complain about that spending, but they'd cry even louder if all public arts suddenly disappeared... plus, we all know art/music is subjective, so what's silly to one might be life-changing for another.
I wouldn't have issue with such programs if we actually had any extra money to spend. As it stands, we're in deep financial doo-doo. While listening to old Dead songs could possibly save the soul of one or two individuals, the (real) needs of the other 375 million people in this country come first. When the cupboards are bare and the stomach is grumbling, only a fool would take his last $20 and walk past the grocer to buy a music CD. Personally I'd rather see some of that money go to our decaying library system.
I wouldn't have issue with such programs if we actually had any extra money to spend. As it stands, we're in deep financial doo-doo. While listening to old Dead songs could possibly save the soul of one or two individuals, the (real) needs of the other 375 million people in this country come first. When the cupboards are bare and the stomach is grumbling, only a fool would take his last $20 and walk past the grocer to buy a music CD. Personally I'd rather see some of that money go to our decaying library system.
Considering I'm a librarian who's been "underemployed" for over a year (due to massive budget cuts), I certainly can't disagree with that last sentence.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
