The $1.2 trillion bill, released on Tuesday, includes more than 6,000 earmarks totaling $8 billion, an amount that many lawmakers decried as an irresponsible binge following a midterm election in which many voters demanded that the government cut spending.
"The American people said just 42 days ago, 'Enough!' . . . Are we tone deaf? Are we stricken with amnesia?" Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a leading earmark critic, said on the Senate floor, flipping through the 1,924-page bill as he pounded his desk.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/14/AR2010121405271.html
Hypocrisy has its finest moment.
The thing is, most tax payers want the pork barrels to empty in the legislative arena, UNTIL IT COMES TO THEIR STATE, and then they're kinda toeing the ground, all aw-shucks-like, wanting their cut of the pie.
Quote from: Jenne on December 15, 2010, 05:06:55 PM
The thing is, most tax payers want the pork barrels to empty in the legislative arena, UNTIL IT COMES TO THEIR STATE, and then they're kinda toeing the ground, all aw-shucks-like, wanting their cut of the pie.
In other words, "Look what I did for you! Re-elect me!"
I just want to pont out that 8 billion is 1.5% of 1.2 trillion.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on December 15, 2010, 05:12:22 PM
I just want to pont out that 8 billion is 1.5% of 1.2 trillion.
Yes. it's a drop in the bucket, but if enough drops aren't in the bucket then progress can be made.
8 billion is still 8 billion.
Quote from: LMNO, PhD on December 15, 2010, 05:12:22 PM
I just want to pont out that 8 billion is 1.5% of 1.2 trillion.
A not very memorable source on MSNBC agreed with this, but pointed out that these earmarks get attached
to bills that otherwise are irresponsible or unpopular, and that because of the earmarks, get voted through.
Though, to be fair, he didn't mention specific cases of this.
$349,000 for swine waste management in North Carolina
See, shouldn't the pig farmers be doing this?
Not all of them are bad things. What is a bad thing is when they get attached to a big bill and sneak through. Put the funds in a pool, then hold open debate and open voting on the projects based on some criteria. Like will it create jobs and will it help the economy.
Yeah, the whole premise behind the stupid earmarks are the enticements for the lawmakers to say, "well, if I vote on this, we get $20,000 to build a bridge or $100,000 to put new thermometers in the government buildings." It's little shit that should be budgeted by the states but are like goodies for the governors and legislators.
Governors often go UP to Wash, DC to negotiate for these, from what I hear...
Quote from: Charley Brown on December 15, 2010, 05:30:48 PM
$349,000 for swine waste management in North Carolina
See, shouldn't the pig farmers be doing this?
1. Pig waste isn't a simple issue, believe it or not. It's a horrible fucking mess, because when it's stored in quantity, it generates heat, and its chemical properties change from "fertilizer" to "Horrible shit that kills anything it touches".
2. Good luck with that. Let me know when you have the same number of lobbyists as pig farming corporations have.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on December 15, 2010, 07:01:37 PM
Quote from: Charley Brown on December 15, 2010, 05:30:48 PM
$349,000 for swine waste management in North Carolina
See, shouldn't the pig farmers be doing this?
1. Pig waste isn't a simple issue, believe it or not. It's a horrible fucking mess, because when it's stored in quantity, it generates heat, and its chemical properties change from "fertilizer" to "Horrible shit that kills anything it touches".
2. Good luck with that. Let me know when you have the same number of lobbyists as pig farming corporations have.
I wonder if we could weaponize it