• WoodScientist@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    As long as we’re already burning the federal credit limit to the ground and blowing trillions on wanton corruption, can we devote a few billion to whimsy?

    Let’s offer an annual billion dollar prize to whoever flies the largest American flag in the past year. We’ll have the most whimsical patriotic contest in history, as people and mega corporations pour hundreds of millions into ever-larger and more titanic American flags. Just how big could you make a flag if you pushed the limits of modern technology? Hell, maybe this wouldn’t even be a complete waste. For example, maybe the giant flag competition will speed up the commercial development of mass-produced carbon nanotubes and other similarly strong materials.

    Also, just for fun, let’s pass a law that offers a hundred trillion dollar prize (inflation indexed) to the company or individual that knocks the Moon out of its orbit and crashes it into the Earth. Ignoring the physical impracticality, we don’t have to worry about anyone actually trying attempting to collect on this prize, as it’s obvious you would never be able to collect payment. But it sure would be funny if there were a law on the books offering a hundred trillion dollar prize to the first person to collide the Moon with the Earth.