So we have a huge deficit, and it is growing by the day. Times are tough, and our representatives are doing something about it. Yes, it's that time again, appropriations and whatnot, and don't you worry-- they've got us covered.

For instance, the $388 billion budget made necessary cuts in spending for useless things like education, environment and health. Howard Dean notes that

"Pell grants will become unavailable for 85,000 students that were receiving them and another 1.2 million students will have their Pell Grant funding decreased. On the other hand, the bill appropriates $2 million to buy a presidential yacht.

Farmers lose over $400 million of soil conservation money. On the other hand, the bill funds the American Cotton Museum in Texas.

The president's commitment to education remains underfunded by roughly $400 million from what the president promised in order to support local schools under "No Child Left Behind." On the other hand, the president has agreed to sign over $1 million for seafood marketing efforts in Alaska - home of Senate Appropriations Chairman Ted Stevens."

Yep, times are tough, and we have to make tough choices. However, I'm sure that if next year rolls around and I can't get my Pell Grant for school, I'll just picture Dubya sailing around on his new yacht and it will be all better...