Any ideas how much the ensembles in this photo are worth?
Three hundred seventeen thousand dollars.
Laura Bush's outfit, jewels included, cost about $4000.
Cindy McCain's outfit, jewels included, $313,000.
Now, I'm not saying that if you're filthy rich you shouldn't have nice things. Or hundreds of thousands of dollars in the blingety-bling draped around your wrists and neck, and dangling from your lobes.
I'm just going to say that the Habitat for Humanity affiliate in my county could have built almost seven houses with $317,000. For that crazy(?) amount of money, seven working families could own their own home, and be working themselves out of poverty instead of riding the spiral downward.
$317,000 could purchase 63 Gift Arks from Heifer International. What's a Gift Ark? One Gift Ark provides two cows, two sheep, two oxen, two camels, and two water buffalos to five families across the globe. Each of those families share the offspring of these pairs with neighbors in their villages, helping one family at a time become self-sufficient. 63 Gift Arks would provide 126 of each of the five animals, a total of 630 animals helping 315 families.
Let me just offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second crowd: change is coming. ~Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee.
Is it, Senator McCain? Really? Because something tells me that when you spend like that, you know, all big-spending, me-first, country-second style, I think you just may not be in touch with what's going on around you. We like to call that REALITY over here at the dayton time, and I cordially invite you to get yourself a big old helping of it.
I'm just going to say that the Habitat for Humanity affiliate in my county could have built almost seven houses with $317,000. For that crazy(?) amount of money, seven working families could own their own home, and be working themselves out of poverty instead of riding the spiral downward.
$317,000 could purchase 63 Gift Arks from Heifer International. What's a Gift Ark? One Gift Ark provides two cows, two sheep, two oxen, two camels, and two water buffalos to five families across the globe. Each of those families share the offspring of these pairs with neighbors in their villages, helping one family at a time become self-sufficient. 63 Gift Arks would provide 126 of each of the five animals, a total of 630 animals helping 315 families.
Let me just offer an advance warning to the old, big-spending, do-nothing, me-first, country-second crowd: change is coming. ~Senator John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee.
Is it, Senator McCain? Really? Because something tells me that when you spend like that, you know, all big-spending, me-first, country-second style, I think you just may not be in touch with what's going on around you. We like to call that REALITY over here at the dayton time, and I cordially invite you to get yourself a big old helping of it.
Thanks for putting $317k into perspective. And I wholeheartedly agree with you.
ReplyDeleteMany moons ago I read something about philanthropy. The Carnegies specifically. They gave a higher portion of their wealth than any mulit-millionaire today. Even with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (which is fantastic), the Carnegies still out gave them.
Whoops - I hijacked your comments. Sorry!
Hijack away.
ReplyDeleteIt is also 79,250 gallons of gas at $4 and it is also groceries for a family of four on one week for 3170 families.
ReplyDeleteI noted the fancy clothes and jewels but I had no idea. Woah...
McCain also didn't know off the top of his head how many houses he owned. I know much has been made of this but I cannnot express my shock at ANYONE not knowing how many houses they own. People are starving, homeless and just barely making it in the country. How can they even fathom what it is like for the rest of us.
Hope the headache is better.
=) Karen
stepping down off her soap box.
Wow. I'm flummoxed. I see some people around me blow some serious cash, but even that is extreme. I mean LB's is pricey, but given the occasion and all, acceptable, ya know? But 313K? Sheesh...
ReplyDeleteAMEN SISTER!
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed at how many down home, middle to lower middle class people down in these parts identify with the Republican party..they feel a connection there and think they're voting in their own self interest. I wish they would wake up and realize the difference between a good ole boy and a rich man who tries to speak like one.
oh, I am so, so glad to read this post. I feel like I've been walking around in the twilight zone for a week, listening to people in coffee shops and grocery stores actually excited about the McCain-Palin possibility. I mean, for God's sake-- the guy doesn't evne know how many houses he owns! Love that you included the Ark stuff t00-- last year, at the alternative gift fair we held during the holidays, my eldest and his friends raised enough to purchase two arks. I just look at the excess of this election and want to puke at just how out of touch our country has become. And I think my son will have to start wearing his "Obama. I want a smart president this time." shirt with more frequency!
ReplyDelete$317k would pay off our mortgage, our second mortgage, college loans, buy two vehicles that don't have anything wrong with them, raise the roof, add a room, and still have some left for college funds and retirement.
ReplyDeleteThinking about money makes me want to wash. If the bills are paid and we're eatin' good, I don't even care if we have any. When I see a Hummer I get pissed, not because I want one but because I think, "I bet that guy can pay his electric bill this month... f***er.
-end.rant-
Oh, don't worry. The people who are voting for McCain will figure out how they deserve it. ;-)
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog and I'm so glad I did! I agree with you 100% here. $317K is a ridiculous amount to spend on clothing, or any one thing that is not a roof over your head. Kudos to you for digging up this dirt and spreading the word.
ReplyDeleteDude. This is why I don't own a designer purse. (Well, that and I can't afford it.) But I think, $2,000 for a bag that will go out of season in a month anyway? That would cover 8 surgeries to correct cleft palates at Operation Smile. Literally change the lives of 8 children.
ReplyDeleteAnd the $317,000? Crap.