What a Waste

This spending (stimulus) bill is an opportunity to highlight problems with government spending in general. People seem oblivious to the fact that so much of our hard earned tax dollars goes to bloated bureaucratic programs that either don't work or could and should easily be funded by private donations.

I'm always arguing with liberals about taking care of the less fortunate among us and how best to do that. I don't think any conservative I know thinks the government should play no role in this. We all believe in a safety net for those who cannot take care of themselves. My point is to imagine how much good we could do for the poor in this country if we weren't wasting the money on pork projects. It's astounding to think about. We could help every single person in need if we just cut out the ridiculous spending and didn't allow fraud in the programs that do help the poor.

So for a moment let's forget this is suppose to be a "stimulus" bill to stimulate the economy. Let's just focus on what the Democrats see as necessary to spend our hard earned tax dollars on. Here are a few examples.

Over $142 Billion in Federal education funds: Nearly double the total outlays for the Dept. of Education in 2007. Now you might think education is a good thing to throw money at, except for the fact that we keep throwing more and more at it and nothing ever gets better. Catholics schools do a much better job (or at the very least as good of a job) at educating a student and at about half the cost per student. It's time we face the fact that money isn't the problem or the answer.

There's $1 billion for Amtrak, the federal railroad that hasn't turned a profit in 40 years. Give this pathetic train to a private company that can make it turn a profit. Good grief. Think what $1billion would buy for food for the poor.

$2 billion for child-care subsidies, This is one of those that sounds good on paper, but in my volunteer work I see the abused over and over. People who can well afford child care or have a family member who can watch their children, take advantage of the program over and over. Enough already.

$50 million the National Endowment for the Arts. The government should NOT be funding this whatsoever. Private funds are the answer. It gives the rich folks more reason to dress up and show off their jewels at artsy charity events. Imagine that $50 million going to shelters for the homeless instead.

$400 million for global-warming research and another $2.4 billion for carbon-capture demonstration projects. Another item that could be fully funded by the rich Hollywood types who fly around in their private jets like hypocrites. Let them put their money where their collagen filled mouth is. $400 million for unwed mother's homes, or a better foster care system. How about that instead?

$650 million to pay for digital TV conversion coupons. Good grief. Is TV necessary for life? Ridiculous. How about $650 million to build better low income housing.

Redistribution: Refundable Tax Credits for people who don’t pay taxes. Obama told Republicans that this was a "philosophical" difference that he wasn't budging on. Yeah, it's quite a difference. It's called "spreading the wealth."

We have already shamed them into dropping federal funding for new contraceptive services, let's shame them with the rest.

The bill is now at $900 BILLION.

The above illustrates my point on how the government wastes our money that could be better served to serve those in need. I don't know about you, but I am sick of it.