Oprah's 'Down Under' surprise

By Phil Boehmke

Billionaire Oprah Winfrey had a special gift for the members of her audience on Monday, a free trip to Australia! Wow, what a great way to kick off her final season. Barack Obama’s favorite fat-cat entertainer (one of those evil people who got the benefit of Bush’s tax cuts for the rich) sure knows how to make her fans happy. What’s a few million dollars to one of the worlds wealthiest women?

The Herald Sun estimates that the cost of Oprah’s generosity will be $4 million dollars, of course those are Australian dollars…literally. What the liberal TV icon failed to mention was that the tax-payers of Australia would be footing the bill for her magnificent gift.

Victorian taxpayers are chipping in as part of a $4 million package, including $1.5 million in federal cash and $2 million from the NSW Government.

Not everybody down under is thrilled to be paying for Oprah’s big gift to her audience. As of right now a poll in the Herald Sun showed 66% of respondents opposed to the tax payer funding of Oprah’s “dream vacation.” Even in Australia the will of the people means nothing to the ruling elite. At least Oprah’s guests will feel right at home on the other side of the world, they’ll get to party and somebody else will get to pay.

As an added bonus the world famous Sydney Opera House, will be (temporarily) re-named the Sydney “Oprah” House. "Can you hear them chunder?"

paboehmke@yahoo.com