Mix and Match

SC gov resurfaces after mystery trip to Argentina
AP - 1 hour, 29 minutes ago

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Gov. Mark Sanford told a newspaper he was in Argentina, not hiking the Appalachian Trail as his staff had told the public to explain his sudden absence. He said he "wanted to do something exotic" to unwind after losing a fight over federal stimulus money.

A snippet of conversation

[scene: Milena and Eli are outside, helmets on, scooters in hand.]

Eli: My mom and dad are rich.
Milena: [sadly] My mom and dad are poor.
Eli: [reaches into pocket, pretends to hand Milena money] Here's some money.
Milena: [happily] Thanks!
Eli: Now you are rich!

[Eli and Milena hop on scooters and scoot around the driveway.]

Worst. Billboard. Ever.

I drove by a billboard like this frequently while in Washington (this isn't my picture - I stole it from somebody), and couldn't help thinking that this message is wrong on so many levels.



First of all, how the heck would more babies stimulate the economy? Are we supposed to use them to feed the hungry? Fuel our vehicles? Call me a cynic, but don't unwanted babies frequently end up as a drain on the economy?

It got me to thinking - if God really wanted to stimulate the economy, wouldn't a more effective approach be to randomly kill 50 or 60 million people? Sure, there would be widespread confusion and chaos for a bit, but it would really allow us to streamline businesses and government (shedding dead weight, as the case would be).

And lastly, if this really was God's approach to stimulate the economy, would they really be dropped down from heaven in convenient four-packs? While it is likely more cost-effective, it seems uncomfortable for the babies, and a bit of a burden on whomever gets the delivery. You'd think God would have thought it through better.