The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Humor Sites Become Worrisome

Posted on | March 11, 2010 | 2 Comments

by Smitty

Hard to believe Parliament of Whores is nearing 20 years old. That classic surveys, in a humorous way, the crap-tacular organizational behavior problems that were just kind of amusing then, and quite literally threaten the solvency of the country now. Farm policy is among the more glaring examples of Federal policy silliness O’Rourke surveyed. I don’t recall if this quote is from PoW, but it’s certainly in keeping with the spirit of the chapter on farm policy:

Farm policy, although it’s complex, can be explained. What it can’t be is believed. No cheating spouse, no teen with a wrecked family car, no mayor of Washington, D.C., videotaped in flagrant has ever come up with anything as farfetched as U.S. farm policy.P. J. O’Rourke

Even P.J.’s least sober visions of Jaws jumping didn’t quite reach the height of Interesting News ItemsFarmVille Acquires Agricultural Subsidies“:

Bigger is better in the new FarmVille, adds Peck. Players may pursue the traditional path of acquiring more neighbors, experience points, and gifts in order to purchase additional land or else donate real money to the FarmVille Growers Association. FGA members are automatically elevated to agribusiness level, enrolled in a political action committee, and given farm dollar subsides which lower prices, encouraging bucolic avatars to plant even more crops, driving down the price and increasing subsidies. In addition, Peck encouraged gamers to divide their plots into shell farms incorporated under the names of their children and apply for individual subsidies.

It looks like those subsidies are merely a part of the game world, at least for now. One shudders to consider the danger if Progressive politicians figure out a way to squeeze real world votes out of players.

Comments

2 Responses to “Humor Sites Become Worrisome”

  1. keyboard jockey
    March 12th, 2010 @ 12:17 am

    Smitty

    Senator Reid’s wife and daughter have been in an auto accident. Check Drudge.

    Mrs Reid has a broken nose, back and neck. Their daughter a neck injury. They are in a Fairfax Virginia hospital.

    http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/11/us/AP-US-Reid-Family-Accident.html?_r=1

  2. keyboard jockey
    March 11th, 2010 @ 7:17 pm

    Smitty

    Senator Reid’s wife and daughter have been in an auto accident. Check Drudge.

    Mrs Reid has a broken nose, back and neck. Their daughter a neck injury. They are in a Fairfax Virginia hospital.

    http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/11/us/AP-US-Reid-Family-Accident.html?_r=1