We’ve all heard about Congress approving a $410 billion spending bill on the heels of the $787 billion economic stimulus package that President Barack Obama signed into law.

What you might not know, is that part of that $410 billion bill is a provision directing $200,000 toward tattoo removal clinics in California. Let that sink in for a minute.

We’ve all heard about Obama being a proponent of change. Well, when you look at some of the policy provisions of the bill, you get the sense that change is coming.

Now, I like Obama. After a disastrous eight years under the Bush administration, he is a breath of fresh air. But $200,000 for tattoo removal clinics?

For one thing, this may encourage people to get tattoos. They figure that if years, months, or even days down the road, if they don’t like it, there is a $100,000 laser removal machine that will eliminate that tramp stamp, or the overly original barbed wire band across the bicep.

It just seems like that is a lot of money to spend on tattoo removal. With the economy the way it is, aren’t there more important things we should be spending money on?

There is a tattoo removal clinic in North Hollywood, run by the Providence Holy Cross Medical Center, that will benefit from this money. Since 1998, the program has helped nearly 12,000 clients remove their tattoos. Black-and-white tattoos take five to eight treatments to remove, while colored tattoos take up to 12, according to a March 11 article in the Sacramento Bee.

OK, so hypothetically this process of removing tattoos can help people get jobs. At least, that is the intent.

The average age for people to get their tattoos removed is 30. One of the main reasons people choose to have their tattoos removed is because they are in the job market and want to look professional, according to the Bee.

Yet, it is tougher than ever right now to find a job, as shown by the unemployment rate.

So let’s recap: the president wants to borrow money that we don’t have to help excuse people’s rash decisions of getting tattoos they don’t intend to keep, in order to help them search for jobs that aren’t available?

Yeah, it makes perfect sense.

With spring break coming up, you can bet tattoo parlors are going to be busy. I guess college students can take a deep breath knowing that once they realize getting that “Spring Break ’09” tattoo wasn’t the greatest idea, they can always have it removed and completely forgotten about.

People need to be held accountable for their actions. Getting a tattoo should be a decision that is well-thought out, and not just a spur-of-the-moment action. This program appears to imply the message that it is OK to be reckless.

Granted, $200,000 is a small part of the $410 billion, but this money should have been used elsewhere.

Kyle Kershner can e reached at [email protected]