(See pdf here.)
In a novel response to House Speaker John Boehner’s continued refusal to allow the Senate-passed federal unemployment extension benefits bill to go to a vote in the House, one long-term unemployed Culver City resident has put her creativity to work.
Shireen Daytona, who has designed an intriguing new game, is hoping to get back on her feet and keep a roof over her head.
“I am astonished at the callousness Boehner was happy to dole out to millions of long-suffering unemployed going into a fifth month with no unemployment benefits,” she said.
This inspired Ms. Daytona to create the newly launched game “Pin the Tail on Boehner,” a fresh take on the much-loved game “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”
With a caricature of Mr. Boehner’s face serving as the face of the donkey standing on a map of the U.S., the artwork is loaded with symbolism and humor belying the serious underlying message. The 12 tails and the blindfold included in each game are all random fabrics representing symbolically the fabric of America.
Along with the political and personal message in the “About” page on her website, Ms. Daytona hopes to generate income through the sale of this game, started on a shoestring with her 2013 state tax refund. Ms. Daytona further hopes that her activism will be a catalyst for long overdue change toward the passing of the stalled legislation in Congress to retroactively implement the federal unemployment extension benefits that expired last Dec. 28.
Ms. Daytona is calling on the House Republicans to rally in support of the long-term unemployed, and to sign the discharge petition to bypass Mr. Boehner and advance this bill to a vote in the House.
To-date, all the House Democrats have signed the discharge petition, leaving a need for 25 House Republicans to sign in order to reach the majority of 218 signatures required by law. The House has until the end of this month to pass the-much needed bill.
Ms. Daytona is appealing to the public to support her new business venture to help turn her life around.
She hopes that with the Fourth of July just seven weeks from Friday, many will join her in having Pin the Tail on Boehner parties. The Pin the Tail on Boehner game may be purchased through the website www.pinthetail.us.
