Echidne over at Echidne of the Snakes has a very strange definition of stupidity, at least in terms of solving the dearth of volunteers for Meals on Wheels.
The story itself isn't stupid. It discusses the problems that the Meals on Wheels program is having recruiting volunteers to deliver meals to the elderly.
Meals on Wheels, which has delivered food to the elderly and disabled since 1954, is experiencing shortages of volunteer drivers and about four of 10 programs have waiting lists of needy clients.
The rapidly growing population of Americans age 85 and older is increasing the need for nutrition programs and high gasoline prices make it harder to recruit volunteers, says Peggy Ingraham of the Meals on Wheels Association of America.
No stupidity so far. It's obviously problematic that there aren't enough volunteers to deliver meals, when having someone pop in once a day can save a senior from having to go into assisted living. And as Echidne points out, the costs of even paying the volunteers versus nursing home care is extremely low.
So, what was stupid? The only stupid part of the post I could find was this statement:
So due to the want of a few dollars we are going to see the nursing home expenses skyrocket. Where's all that money that was spent for abstinence education, by the way? Perhaps some of those abstinent teens could be talked into delivering meals instead.
So....we should spend the money from abstinence education on Meals on Wheels volunteers? Or is the supposed snake goddess attempting to be funny in suggesting that instead of having sex the abstinent teens should be delivering meals? In either event, I hope she doesn't quit her day job anytime soon.
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