You can’t fault Kyrgyzstan’s parliament deputies for generosity.
The Zhogorku Kenesh voted today to give up one day’s salary to aid earthquake victims in Japan. Judging by the number of Lexus SUVs lined up outside the parliament building, the total should round up to a nice useful sum.
But wait a minute.
Kyrgyz news agency 24.kg reported recently that deputies’ monthly salaries only amount to a frugal 18,000 soms ($380). Do some basic math and you get the thrifty sum of just over $1,500 going to Japan.
Kyrgyzstan likewise sent 3 tons of water to the devastated Asian country. Bishkek offered a team of its emergency service workers, but rumor has it that the Japanese politely declined.
The best thing Kyrgyz parliamentarians could do to help Japan at this point is to keep buying those Toyota Lexus SUVs.
The cheapest new one available on the carmaker's American site costs no less than $38,375 -- almost exactly 100 times as much as a deputy makes in a month.
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