Doing More With Less
In defense of creative loafing
Cover Story
When the federal economic stimulus package hit the news in January, my latest run on unemployment was just going dry, and the mere prospect of getting another job was enough to make my testicles retract into my body. When reports surfaced that a three- or six-month (!!) unemployment extension was going to be part of the package, it seemed like government was finally doing something for the little guy, instead of just the fat cats and whiny Christians. I spent the next two weeks Google News-ing “unemployment extension economic stimulus” every 10 minutes.
When the package including the extension failed by one vote, I was so fucking pissed at the United States government that if an al-Qaeda recruiter had pitched me at that moment, I’d be in the Afghanistan desert as we speak, screaming Arabic at the top of my lungs while bayoneting an Uncle Sam mannequin.
I’ve been on unemployment three times in the past six years. Each time was better than the last, and each time I stayed on until the last cent was exhausted. I didn’t even try to get a job; it was a paid vacation. This is somewhat unusual from what I can tell. There’s a deep vein of antipathy in this country toward collecting checks from the government, especially in precincts that tend to skew rightward. Politicians imply that it’s un-American for an individual to milk the government, all while jacking up corporate welfare for their campaign contributors. And your uncle who cheered at the end of Easy Rider? He insists that if he had to obliterate 40 years of his life punching a clock, why should you goddamn hippies have it any better?... Continued 
Issue of Mar. 7 - 13, 2008
News and Features
- Doing More With Less
Cover Story - Where Would Jesus Park?
The City - Buyer's Market
The City - Page Three Photo
Distractions - Found Art
Distractions - Take the Hard Line
The Mail
Columns
- Welcome, 13th-Graders
Cheap Seats - Access and Allies
Loose Lips - For Better or For... Oh, What the Hell?
Savage Love - Hussle to Low-Flow
The Straight Dope
Eats
- Pardon the Intrusion
Young & Hungry
Movies
- Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day and Let's Get Lost: Bursting to Fix
Film Review - Growth Industry
Film Review
Music
- One Track Mind
Music - Big Business
Music Review
Theater
- August in D.C.
Theater
Arts and Events
- What's Your Problem?
What's Your Problem? - Point Taken
Show & Tell - Second-Land News
Book Reviews
City Lights
This week's best in Arts and Entertainment.
- Florestan Trio
Arts & Events - "Invisible, Inc."
Arts & Events - Alexander Sokurov
Arts & Events - School of Language
Arts & Events - Environmental Film Festival
Arts & Events - Joseph Horowitz
Arts & Events - Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation
Arts & Events - Sightings
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This Week in
City Paper History
- Angels Without Wings
Oct. 2 - 8, 1998 - Fare Elections
Oct. 3 - 9, 2003 - Kicking and Screaming
Oct. 3 - 9, 2003
