Photo by FishFeathers.The federal government is looking for ways to get out from under the serious deficit the country is facing, and as a city which is so intertwined with the government, many of those proposals would have a serious effect on our daily lives. For instance, one well-publicized recommendation that is being thrown around by politicians is a reduction of the federal workforce — and a potential ten percent slice in federal employees’ pay.
Other measures could have a big impact on some of the things that Washingtonians have always taken from granted. This morning, P.J. Orvetti of NBCWashington.com highlights an idea that is certain to ruffle some feathers: former Sen. Alan Simpson and Clinton Administration member Erskine Bowles, members of the the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, have suggested cutting the budget of the Smithsonian Institution by $225 million — and recouping that loss by charging $7.50 for admission to the Institution’s facilities. Orvetti opines on the suggestion: “But as much as it pains me, as someone who visits a Smithsonian or two just about every week, to say it, perhaps that’s an indulgence the country can no longer afford.”
All due respect to Orvetti for taking what will probably be an incredibly unpopular stance. But if we’re going to start charging for admission to the Smithsonian, why stop there? Let’s just start sucking money out of all the other free federally-controlled stuff in the District! You want to play Saturday soccer on the Mall? Yeah, that’ll be five dollars. Oh, you’d like to sit and read a book in Meridian Hill? That’ll be $2.25. Perhaps you’d like to take a hike through Rock Creek Park — yeah, that will cost you ten dollars for the first hour, then two bucks for every hour thereafter.
But seriously: it just seems short-sighted to sell out the idea of a free, engaging art center that is open to every American, just to conserve a $225 million drop in a multi-billion dollar reservoir of debt.
But hey, maybe I’m wrong. (It wouldn’t be the first time my principles went against the grain.) Would you be willing to pay $7.50 for admission to the Smithsonian?
