The President of the United States' annual salary is $400,000.00
The Vice-President's annual salary is $186,300.00
U. S. Congressmen receive a yearly salary of $165,200.00
A first year private in the U.S. Army receives around $12,060.00. There's some variance based on skill and assignment, but it's not going to go much than a thousand or two in either direction. Broken down to an hourly wage, a soldier in Iraq makes about eighty cents more than a burger-flipper.
I don't need to tell you what's wrong with this picture.
It gets worse.
Halliburton CEO David Lesar made at least $12.3 million in 2006. There are some reports on the web that he actually makes twice that. Up siginificantly since the War on Terrorizing America's wallets and purses began. Halliburton has earned over $20 billion from the U.S. military in war-related contracts in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion.
And I'm sure he has found ways to thank Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney for providing him with the blood and oil needed to line his pockets. Especially Mr. Cheney, who is Halliburton's former CEO and who has stock options in the company worth $10 million.
You want to support the troops, Washington? Bring them home so they're not pimping out their lives for minimum wage in an unnecessary war brought about by the guy wearing the velvet cowboy hat.
Sorry. Not a lot of humor in this one. Must be that War Fatigue Bush says that I have. I'm glad he understands me.
THE BS NEWS QUIZ
Yesterday, I started a new feature called The BS News Quiz (cue trumpet blast). The "BS" stands for "Bite and Smile," of course, but if you thought something else, that's okay, too.
Wednesday's question was...
"Pagans, upset at Homer Simpson's appearance at the site of Cerne Abbas, have vowed to do what in retaliation?"
40% of you answered "They are going to boycott the movie."
None of you fell for "They are suing Fox."
40% of you answered "Nothing. Pagans don't believe in Homer Simpson."
The correct answer, that 20% of you nailed, is "They are going to perform "rain magic.""
According to the BBC, Ann Bryn-Evans, joint Wessex district manager for The Pagan Federation, said: "We'll be doing some rain magic to bring the rain and wash it away." Rain magic, by the way, is not so magical. It involves standing in a circle, drinking several pints of Guinness, and precipitating.
ROBOWRITERS TONIGHT!
It's Thursday. That means you can meet with me at 6:30pm at the Uptown Writer's Space and get feedback on your written scenes. It's only $5 and if 80,000 of you show up, I'll make as much as the president without nearly as much bloodshed.
