A couple of weeks ago, the quickly rising amount of the two biggest lottery game jackpots was very much in the news.

Everyone seemed interested, and it was a major topic of conversation. Eventually someone won a billion dollars and the hype died down.

In place of that is the daily goal of Congress giving the American populace compensation for all they have lost during the pandemic. It seemed that a generous stipend of $600 per person in the household, if the family gross income stayed under a certain number, was acceptable.

A family of four gets $2,400. Multiply that by the number of families eligible, and we have X-number of billions of dollars to hand out and to spend. That should keep food on the table and the lights on.

But then, we moved toward a second round of magical stimulus checks, and we find that $600 per person is a slap in the face, not the answer to a prayer.

It didn’t help that the issue became the most important ball for politicians to juggle and toss about in the effort to keep their seats. We are now at the point that, ripped from today’s headlines, the new number is $3,600 per child. Four children would be $14,400.

Just for fun, let’s throw in that minimum wage is still $7.25 per hour and a full-time job is 2,080 hours per year.

If they haven’t changed the multiplication tables since Mrs. Blatt’s 7th-grade math class, that would be a minimum-wage gross total of $15,080 per year. So, four children will net $680 less than minimum wage, although they will get it without having to leave the crib or playground. We hope there isn’t a work stoppage due to them being slighted the $680.

Our real concern with this is the total lack of controls placed on the free money. The money will buy plenty of cigarettes, beer, alcohol, lottery tickets and sodas. Maybe even a video game system or two.

How will Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell police the spending by families? This charity is wonderful. As faithful religious people, we should give as we are able.

But we are not to give foolishly. It is called stewardship. It is a great concept. It is the act of using our time, talent and finances to do the most good possible.

Handing out checks haphazardly to win loyalty from the voters isn’t right or proper. In fact, it is terrible. No one will benefit and, mostly importantly, it won’t help the children it is supposed to help.

Tell us again how it is to help fix the economy? Oh, sorry, this was only supposed to point out the sad state of affairs we have concerning funding children’s programs.

It is very frustrating to come to the realization that nothing about the $3,600 per child is really controlled by anyone to get the money used properly. We can rant about how Washington fails the economy another day.

Please wear your mask.

— RV