by Karl Kurtz
The Brookings Institution's Tom Mann, speaking at a workshop for teachers on representative democracy yesterday, said that he favored a balanced budget amendment like the one that Herbert Stein, the late conservative economist, had proposed: To require school children to pray for a balanced budget.
This line amused me enough to search for a reference to it on the web. I found a 1996 New York Times story:
At a recent weekend retreat, the senior staff at the American Enterprise Institute spent hours debating political issues of the day.
When particpants reached the topic of legalized prayer in public schools, Herbert Stein, who was chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Nixon and Ford Administrations and is now a senior fellow at the Institute, sat quietly and let the others carry the discussion.
Eventually, someone said, ''Herb, what do you think of children praying at school?''
Mr. Stein, who is known for quick wit as well as traditional conservative economic views, replied: ''I don't care if the little tykes pray as long as they pray for a balanced budget.''
A little bit different from Tom's formulation but nonetheless consistent. And still funny, regardless of your position on a balanced budget--or school prayer, for that matter.
Which reference are you using to do this? The Koran, Bible, Torah, or perhaps the Dhammapada?
Posted by: James Kester | July 21, 2011 at 06:37 AM