Let's play a little game. You're going to go on a trip to Washington. You only have two days, and you've got to meet the President of the United States. Okay, that's not sounding like a lot of fun, I'll grant you. But, you can bring some friends along and all your expenses will be paid.

So, how many people would you take? This is the president we are talking about, so you've got to make your entourage look impressive. Five, maybe? Alright, ten, but not your parents because they both can't stand Bush and have a nasty habit of wiping your chin in public. Maybe twelve friends then, a spouse or partner, and why not earn some brownie points and take a few folks from work? Ah, but you've got to take at least 45 people, and that doesn't include security, support staff, and flight crew for your private jet.

But, do you know 45 people? Well, improvise and have your friends bring friends; it's not your money after all, is it? Right, so you've got 45 people you barely know flying down to Washington with you while you meet the president and they go do something else. Looks like you're going to have to rent some cars for these people to get around town. You're thinking a few minivans should do the trick; two days' rental, insurance included, maybe a couple of thousand dollars with gas and a car wash.

No, no, no. You've got to spend at least $120,000 on vehicle rentals...and you thought this was an easy game, did you?

Hmmm, so let's see...the most expensive car you can find on short notice is a Porsche with all the trimmings for a $1,000 a day. If everyone gets one, that's $90,000, but there's a big deductible and expensive mileage, so if you tell ten of them to crash their cars, and the rest to drive out to Martha's Vineyard while they're there, you should be able to do it, especially with gas costing what it does.

So far, so good. But here comes the next hurdle: you've got to fly them down and find them somewhere to stay for two days. You certainly can't expect the president to put them all up, can you? Busy man, that president, so don't be silly.

The last time you went on a trip, you decided to go super posh and stay at the Ritz for $350 a night, but they did throw in a bathrobe and soap, so it wasn't too bad. And a quick check says a commercial flight to Washington is $500, round trip, so let's go crazy and round it off at a thousand a night for each. $90,000, and keep the change, right?

Wrong. You've got to spend $260,000 (bet you'd rather be playing chess right now, wouldn't you?). Alright, bump them up to business class, book it only three hours before takeoff, and give them all a double upgrade to the executive suites in every hotel in Washington. That gets you close, and by the time all those happy strangers you're traveling with steal the towels, you should be right on budget.

Okay, you're almost there! Isn't spending other people's money fun?

Now for some small stuff...photocopies! You have to go nuts with photocopies. Remember when you went to the library and copied an entire book thinking it was cheaper than buying it? What did it cost? Thirty, forty dollars? Well, start thinking fast, because you've got to spend $3,000 in two days! Lucky for you, there's a library in Washington, and you're using American money, so get going.

You've been talking on the cell phone this whole time, haven't you? Well, who cares if you haven't even gone on the trip yet, you need the practice! Start sourcing some numbers in Thailand or Japan; get those time zones sorted out so you're always calling mid-day, racking up prime time minutes. You've got over $6,000 to squander in two days, after all. Dial! Dial!

Alright, last but not least, you have to go by the name of Paul Martin, claim you're the Prime Minister of Canada, and slash some sort of important social spending when you get back.

Tough game, isn't it? We've only had one person pull it off so far.