Smokey the Capitalist

In the appendix to the President's budget is the information that Smokey Bear hauled in $81,000 last year, will make about $92,000 this year, and as much as $127,000 next year. The cash comes from the royalties charged commercial companies to use Smokey's name on such things as sweatshirts, wristwatches, games, books, litter bags and sheet music ("Smokey the Bear,/ prowlin' and a-growlin' and a-sniffin' the air"). It would be heartening if some cartoon mythologist could invent other crusaders against the ills of America. To deal with the environment, perhaps there could be Murky Moose to campaign against industrial polluters, or Peter Paramecium, who scours the countryside inhaling phosphates, tin cans and smutty air.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.