Take a quack at our ongoing rubber ducky essay contest!

CONTEST RULES

Our modern culture is awash in cute new rubber duckies, but few or none of them float like a rubber ducky should. Most of them fall over with just a slight nudge. What does this say about us? How did we get here? Are we modern people like these lame ducks, toppling over at the slightest wave of trouble or criticism, unable to stick up for ourselves? Is this the ultimate victory of style over substance? Can we ever design a workable health insurance system if we can't even design workable rubber ducks?

Do you have any answers about this? Sure you do, and here's a ducky deal: write or email us with an answer to the question "Why are we surrounded by defective duckies, and what can we do about it?" Answers must be short, say less than 200 words (no Moby Ducks, please), and they may be edited. If your answer floats, we will print it along with your name, and you will win a free one-year subscription (or subscription extension) to the Free Press. (Note: we do not enter you on any junkmail lists.)

Send your answers and address (so we can mail you your subscription) to WAfreepress@gmail.com, and be sure to write "Rubber Ducky Contest" in the subject heading. You can also write

"Rubber Ducky Contest"
c/o WA Free Press
PMB#178
1463 E. Republican St
Seattle 98112

If you don't win the free subscription, please don't take it hard. Just take a nice warm bath to soothe yourself--minus the duck.