Maybe Pigs Really Do Fly . . .
By William Bailey (12/28/07)
Usually, when someone makes the statement, "when pigs fly" it's a response to a situation that is highly unlikely, if not impossible. However, I have come to believe that maybe pigs do fly. That can be the only logical explanation for the big "pork barrel in the sky" believed by many not only to be there, but to be filled with an endless supply of "Federal" dollars. And, there must be one because so many members of Congress keep going there to get some of those "Federal" dollars. Of course, anyone with a modicum of intelligence knows that the existence of “Federal” dollars is a fantasy created years ago. There are no "Federal" dollars. The only dollars at the Federal "trough" are those which American taxpayers put in it. And, based on the size of the National debt, it should be obvious there's not an endless supply . . . pigs flying or not.
Based on the number of members of Congress going to that “great pork barrel in the sky”, it would appear that quite a few of them follow the lead of Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL).
On national news on Thursday, December 20, 2007, Durbin made the following statement:
“My job as Senator is to bring some of those Federal dollars home”.
Since Durbin has been in Washington since 1983, it would appear that he’s figured out how to go about getting to that great “pork barrel in the sky”. Notice that he didn’t say, “one of my jobs”; he didn’t say, “my job as Senator is to do what’s best for Illinois and the Nation”. It was to “bring some of those Federal dollars home.” While it’s sad, at least Durbin said what is probably the prevailing attitude among the majority of the members of Congress.
Before sharing a sample of “earmarked” projects, let me make it clear that I am not judging the merit and/or need (or lack thereof) of any of the projects. It just seems to me that if a city/community has a need/want for a specific project for use by the citizens of that city/community, then that political subdivision should find a way to pay for it within that political subdivision. That’s the way it used to be. Other than to get votes, why would members of Congress go to the “pork barrel” and force taxpayers in other areas to pay for it.
According to Citizens Against Government waste (www.cagw.org), the 2008 Omnibus Spending Bill contained some 9,170 projects. Added to the 2,076 in the Defense Authorization Bill, the total reaches 11,246 projects between the two bills. Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) estimates the total of all of the earmarked projects will reach $18.2 billion. Even though spending at the Federal level is at incomprehensible levels, $18.2 billion is still a bunch of money. In case anyone should be interested . . . that’s an average of 21 projects for each of the 535 Members of Congress (House and Senate).
Remember the “bridge to nowhere in Alaska” ? This was a project that would’ve cost more than $250 million and it is reported that it would’ve served only 50 residents. Well, the proponents couldn’t get the bridge . . . so, go for a ferry. One of the earmarked projects that was inserted by the members of Congress from Alaska . . . a project worth $20 million. I guess one might come to the conclusion, if you can’t get a bridge . . . go for a ferry.
Now to some of the other “pork barrel” projects that were included in the 2008 Omnibus Spending Bill.
** $10 million for attorneys of ILLEGAL immigrants
** $100,000 for a swimming pool in Ottawa, Kansas
** $1.5 million for the Rep. Richard Gephardt Archive at the Missouri Historical Society
** $576,000 to manage weeds (no location specified)
** $700,000 for a bike trail in Minnesota
** $1 million for a river walk in Massachusetts
** $100,000 for signage in Los Angeles’ fashion district
** $250,000 for a wine and culinary center in Prosser, Washington
** $113,000 for rodent control in Alaska
** $213,000 for olive fruit fly research in FRANCE
** $200,000 for hunting and fishing museum in Pennsylvania
** $200,000 for post office museum in downtown Las Vegas
I’m sure you begin to get the picture even though the list goes far beyond just these few projects (remember, there are over 11,000 of these projects). As an aside. . . for the life of me . . . why would you need to “manage weeds” ? Most places just get rid of them.
As I have stated before . . . what we’ve got here is an addiction to the narcotic called the “pork barrel” and to the belief that there is such a thing as “something for nothing”. Just as withdrawal from drugs such as heroin, cocaine, etc., is very challenging and painful, so will be the withdrawal from “pork barrel” spending and “something for nothing”.
There’s always a lot of “back and forth” about the National debt and the National deficit and yet there continues to be a steady march to the “pork barrel”. That appears (at least to me) to be a classic example of talking out of both sides of one’s mouth.
For those who will “jump up and down” and point to the merit and worthiness of these (and other) “pork barrel” projects, please remember that I have already said that I do NOT question the merit or worthiness of the projects. The only thing I question is why taxpayers in one area should help pay for projects that hold specific benefits for taxpayers in another area. As already mentioned, time was when residents of a community wanted a museum, art gallery, swimming pool, etc., they bore the cost of such projects. Worked then . . . why not now ? I’m afraid the answer is all too obvious . . . too many have bought into the concept of “Federal” dollars (the “pork barrel”) and it will continue until such time as enough Americans have the courage and intestinal fortitude to speak out to their elected leaders to bring the “flying pigs” out of the sky and bring this process to a close . . . hopefully, sooner rather than later.
For those who fly from one destination to another, I guess you need to start checking outside your aircraft window to see if you can see any of the “flying pigs”. Surely, there are enough of them up/out there that you should be able to see them. Since our elected officials don’t seem to be able to curtail this process, maybe our hope is that the FAA will declare “flying pigs” a menace to the flying public and order the process stopped.
Until then . . . I guess “flying pigs” will continue to be a way of life.
William D. Bailey
(Printer friendly version) Email: William Bailey
