Cash for Colonoscopies?

It's interesting to see the unquestioned rush in the U.S. Congress to add funding to the "Cash for Clunkers" program. That's the one that pays part of the cost of a new car if the old one got really crappy mileage even when new. (Even a lot of SUV's don't qualify.)

After all, a lot of those cars are the same Hummers whose original purchases were subsidized with a tax deduction meant for farm vehicles. A large percentage of the jobs in the auto manufacturing industry have already moved outside the U.S., so it's not the most efficient way to stimulate the economy. And while I'm all for reducing emissions, manufacturing brand new cars instead of making old ones serve longer lives probably creates even more carbon emissions.

In contrast, health care reform has been met by decades of foot-dragging. Nobody is rushing to fund "Cash for Colonoscopies" or "Dollars for Delivery Rooms." It shows where our national priorities are -- the car is one of the gods of the American pantheon. No one questions socialized highways, either, but "Bucks for New Bus Routes" would meet howls of protest.

And I sure don't expect to see "Small Change for Class Size Reduction" any time soon, especially since education doesn't have a predominantly male work force

Just sayin.'