withapologiestoJudithViorst,authorof“AlexanderandtheTerrible,Horrible,NoGood,VeryBadDay”

RepublicanSenatorsandtheTerrible,Horrible,NoGood,VeryBadNight

ABedtimeStory

Onceuponatime,therewasagroupofRepublicanSenators.

Eventhoughtheygot168judgesapproved,theyonlywantedmore.

168isabignumber.Doyouknowwhat168lookslike?

Itlookslikethis

Instead,theytalkedandtalkedaboutthefourjudgeswhodidn’t

qualifyforapromotion.

Fourisaverylittlenumber.

Doyouknowwhatfourlookslike?

Itlookslikethis:

grumble grumblegrumble

AndsotheRepublicanSenatorscriedandcried

allnightlong,anddugtheirheelsin.

ButwhiletheRepublicanSenatorswereupallnightcryingaboutthejobsoffourjudges,ninemillionAmericanswenttobedwithoutajob.

Ninemillionisabignumber.Doyouknowwhatninemillionlookslike?

Itlookslikethis:

Wedon’tcare,theRepublicanSenatorssaid.Forus,fouris

moreimportantthan9million.

Andtheydugtheirheelsin.

pop. 9,000,000

WhiletheRepublicanSenatorswereupallnightcrying,44millionAmericanswenttobedwithouthealthinsurance.44millionisanevenbiggernumber.Doyouknowwhat44millionlookslike?

Itlookslikethis

Wedon’tcare,theRepublicanSenatorssaid.Forus,fourismoreimportantthan44million.

Andtheydugtheirheelsindeeper.

WhiletheRepublicanSenatorswereupallnightcrying,thecountrywasadding400billiondollarsindebtperyear.

400billionisanevenbiggernumber.

Doyouknowwhat400billionlookslike?

Itlookslikethis

Wedon’tcare,theSenatorssaid.Forus,fourismoreimportantthan400billion.

Andtheydugtheirheelsinevendeeper.

Bytheendofthenight,theRepublicanSenatorshaddugaholewiththeir

heelssodeep,theycouldn’tseethebigproblemsfacedbyAmericans.

Grumble Grumble Grumble

…alltheyheardwasthecrying…

Grumble … Grumble …

AndAmericanscouldn’tseewhattheRepublicanSenatorswerecryingabout.

the9millionunemployedAmericanscouldn’tseeit…

the44millionuninsuredAmericanscouldn’tseeit…

the275millionAmericansdeeperindebtcouldn’tseeit…

…andalltheysawwasaverybighole.

Andthatwasverysad.

Theend.