Why we can't have nice things, part MCMXIII

[elfs]

I was talking to a friend of mine last night, and pointed out an article about how silly Americans are fretting over how much we spend in foreign aid. "Good," he said. "We ought to stop sending so much."

"How much do you think there is? What percentage of the annual budget do you think goes to foreign aid?"

He paused for a second. "20 percent?"

"Most people think it's about 20%," I said, "and those who think it's a good idea still think that 15% is the right amount. The real number is less than 1%."

This is a guy who thinks he's politically savvy. He listens to NPR. He reads the news. And he still has no idea how much we spend in foreign aid.

Comments

[dossy.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm wholly in favor of bringing litigation against Fox News for misrepresentation in advertising with their "fair and balanced" slogan, too.

I paint with a really broad brush. ;-)