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So, I get home from work today, and my Mother-in-Law is visiting. She's a lifelong registered R, but has been voting Dem since Reagan's 2nd term. Anyway, she sits home all day watching CNN and network TV dreck, like the Peterson trial, reality shows, Joan Rivers, you name it.
When I get home today, she starts in on the tsunami relief aid. The conversation went something like this:
MiL: Well, that cheapskate bush donated $10k of his own money today to the relief. Do you think he could part with it?
Me: Yes, you're right. That's equal to the cost of one of his handmade suits. Say, did you see where Sandra Bullock donated $1-million and that Formula One guy donated $10-million?
MiL: Yes, I did. (Here's where the kool ade comes in): Well, at least we're donating something. You notice with all of those Muslims dying over there that bin Laden and the Saudis aren't donating THEIR money!
Me: Geez, I guess that just shows how low the USA has sunk when we're having to compare ourselves to bin Laden so we'll feel better about ourselves. I thought we had higher standards.
MiL: Oh, you're right. But Americans have always been generous.
Me: Maybe in your day, but I just read where we're dead last in giving. Did you know that we only give about 15¢ per capita for relief aid when France is giving 41¢ and some of the Scandinavians are giving 84¢?
MiL: Yeah, but that's government spending. Our private donations are much higher.
Me: Not really. Private giving only adds another 6¢ to the total...which brings us up to the 21st lowest country in government donations.
MiL: Oh. Where'd you learn all that?
Me: Not from TV.
And so it goes...
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