President Bush: "Illiteracy is Good"

While President Bush did not exactly declare "illiteracy is good," he might as well have. Bush's proposed 2009 budget eliminates all the funding for Reading Is Fundamental's book distribution program. Since 1966, this program has provided more than 325 million books to more than 30 million underprivileged children.

RIF received $26.6 million in 2007 and is requesting $26 million this year. Given current estimates that the War in Iraq is costing approximately $2 billion a week, one week of war spending could pay for 70 years of RIF funding. I suppose this says something (unsurprising) about Bush's priorities.

If you'd like to complain to your representatives in Congress, go here. If you agree with Bush's proposed budget cut, go here.