ADVICE: Heed this memo from Mars

Greetings Americans,

We here on Mars have noticed that you are sending another space rover to our planet looking for intelligent life. We now understand why, after looking at Washington, D.C. Our understanding is NASA is spending $2.4 billion on this new project while 48 of your 50 states are in financial trouble (not to mention your federal budget woes). We here on Mars have some suggestions:

1) Take the $2.4 billion and split it 50 ways, giving each state $50 million for infrastructure. We don't have or need road or bridges on Mars but understand yours are in need of repair.

2) Stop sending us "foreign aid." We don't need it, especially while your country is hurting. In more than 40 years of space exploration, you've focused on trying to find life outside your planet but ignored the life on your planet.

3) Try to find some intelligent people to send to Washington, D.C. - ones who can use a calculator.

4) Wake up America before you further bankrupt your children and grandchildren.

MARK MECHLING

Cataldo