> I wonder if the plan to place false stories in the media, and the plan to bribe unwed mothers to marry, came from the same twisted mind. What worries me is that we are going to get more of this kind of thinking from the present administration.
> Howard

For clarification, no one is bribing unwed mothers to do anything. We aren't taking 300 million dollars and handing it to low income people who want to get married. Everyone seems to be discussing this as if we're turning the money into tax credits, direct cash payoffs, and the like.

Please take the time to read a detailed summary of the plan. The money is being spent on programs which encourage marriage. Premarital counseling, and education on marriage skills. The plan isn't to pressure or force people into getting married-but to provide assistance for those who wish to be. That's why we're spending a static amount, rather than paying everyone who wants to get married.

And the "disinformation" campaign was overblown. A general made a comment about an office whose goal is to use information operations in sending news to media outlets, and using disinformation to try to have enemy powers be misinformed about our next target. There was meant to be a distinction between media and intelligence operations for disinformation-but this was interpreted that we'd be attempting to plant lies in the media. As numerous white house officials, the press secretary, and the secretary of defense have explained, this is not and will not be the case, and after public suspiscion over an office to influence the media, it has been shut down.

Regardless of how you feel about that office and the proposal the president has made, those are the facts. I firmly believe political discussion is important, and staying informed of the state of our country is essential. But it's just as crucial to make sure you have all the right facts.

Check out more than one media source if you have to, or look online for the official summary of a proposal. Often, there's more to it than what you might think, and what you do read can easily be misinterpreted.

MarkN