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chaloobi
SFN Regular
1620 Posts |
 Posted - 02/05/2008 : 11:12:50
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I saw in the news that GW's latest budget is $3.1 trillion, which doesn't include the $250 billion or so he's going to waste on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I also saw in coverage of GW's latest rant against earmarks that $35 billion went to earmarks last year. Ok, do some math and you see the earmark problem is about 1.1% of the Federal budget. Harldy the pork barrel deficit exploding outrage certain folks would like you to believe, especially considering the deficit is projected at $400 billion.
Hmmmm.
So what's this rant of GW's going to accomplish? Oh yeah, it's subterfuge; diverting attention to a faux problem, principly in the laps of the Democrats now, so that people won't think so much about the real problems principly caused by poor Republican leadership. And lets not forget that Tom Delay had the brainstorm for the ruling party in congress to use earmarks to very effectively maintain seats. Likely GW's focussing on this so Democrats can't follow suit to maintain their own seats in the upcoming election. And don't forget that's $35 billion in lost corporate and/or highest income bracket tax cut opportunity.
I remember in the '80s all the conservative ire against welfare and its associated fraud. I also remember when I found out it amounted to lest than 2% of the federal budget... Smoke and mirrors.
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-Chaloobi
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Edited by - chaloobi on 02/05/2008 11:55:28
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Cuneiformist
The Imperfectionist
USA
4955 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 12:39:06 [Permalink]
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I agree with this to a large extent. I mean, there is "bad pork" (e.g. the "Bridge to Nowhere"), but in some-- even many!-- cases, this "pork" is actually money going to interesting projects or worthwhile infrastructure upgrades.
My sense is that the most vocal groups are the anti-government crowds, and that it is nothing more than feigning outrage and exaggerating claims to convince the public that Congressional spending is all out of whack. And of course, if we cut spending, then we can cut taxes. Then repeat the feigned outrage and on it goes. |
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Dude
SFN Die Hard
USA
6891 Posts |
Posted - 02/05/2008 : 14:38:37 [Permalink]
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How much gets "earmarked" for the office of faith based initiatives?
Don't hear the fuckers complaining about that waste of money do ya?
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Ignorance is preferable to error; and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing, than he who believes what is wrong.
-- Thomas Jefferson
"god :: the last refuge of a man with no answers and no argument." - G. Carlin
Hope, n.
The handmaiden of desperation; the opiate of despair; the illegible signpost on the road to perdition. ~~ da filth |
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chaloobi
SFN Regular
1620 Posts |
Posted - 02/06/2008 : 06:37:41 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dude
How much gets "earmarked" for the office of faith based initiatives?
Don't hear the fuckers complaining about that waste of money do ya?
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That's an actual program, isn't it? |
-Chaloobi
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Do You Think Earmarks Are a Big Deal?
