Robbing The Taxpayer To Give To Themselves
Earmarks are basically reelection campaign funds, and a House Democrat, Jim Moran, indicated that lawmakers are getting around the new earmarks ban by convincing Obama administration officials to fund their pet projects. Jim Strauss writes on TheHill about an appearance by Moran on C-SPAN's "Washington Journal":
In response to a question about whether earmark bans have "curtailed" the Appropriations Committee's power, Moran responded, "No, and I have to say -- and I'm going to be as candid as possible -- the appropriators are going to be okay because we know people in agencies and so on. We will continue to do the best job we can for the country and to some extent for our congressional districts because that's our job as well.""But I feel quite strongly that the writers of the Constitution knew what they were doing when they gave the power of the purse to the Congress," Moran said.
The new House GOP majority has embraced a moratorium on earmarks, as has the Senate Appropriations Committee.
It's immediately good for a legislaturd to get money for his district, but it's anything but good for the country when we have a national debt that's beyond vast -- and ever-growing.
via Instapundit
Once the people learn they can vote themselves a pay day, the party is over. It has taken a few decades for this party to be over, but we are now at the stage where we say, "Don't forget to turn the lights out as you leave."
Nick at March 4, 2011 5:37 AM
I'm undecided at this point about trying to get a small old 401K converted to physical silver. I'm thinking its a good idea.
I'm also stocking up on canned food. I'm not quite sure whether I need to go to the point of buying heirloom seeds and storing them. But its a thought.
Jim P. at March 4, 2011 7:53 PM
You need to check into the preserving of those seeds very carefully. IN any seed group, a certain number become unviable every year until the growth rate is zero. So unless they've found a way to stop that from happening, the heirloom seed safe is of very limited value.
More practical would be keeping up a garden-doesn't have to be large, every plant produces dozens or even hundreds of seeds-so that one has the seeds if needed.
momof4 at March 4, 2011 9:56 PM
Legislaturd?
A schoolmate of mine some 70 years ago used turd a lot to characterize people he didn't like. (He was also fond of igniting farts, which may have a psickological connection.) Now I see it emerging on your blog in reference to congressmen. Perhaps this is a sign that the good old solid American traditional values are not being dumped after all.
Dick Leed at March 6, 2011 4:52 AM
Didn't Congress - a few months ago - kick the "global warming" law (rule)-making over to the EPA? They don't write, let alone read, the laws they create; yet they complain at the judges left to sort out the mess they created. They won't declare war, yet condemn the Executive for engaging in "conflicts". My point is that these humans have shirked their roles, outsourcing / neglecting / contradicting them. This isn't merely a series of concrete technical problems, this is indicative of irrationality sweeping the land (right into the core of its government). They have all kinds of tools & toys, what will these children choose to do / destroy next? It's unknown, and unknowable; it's complete chaos.
egoist at March 6, 2011 4:56 AM
They (Congress) have learned from the master Obama--the last thing you want to do is leave a paper trail. This way, the EPA screws the economy, claims it is doing so scientifically, and the Congress can say we left this technical stuff to the experts. Same thing goes with not issuing a Declaration of War, thus leaving Congress with "clean" hands when it comes to the implementation of a "conflict".
Hrothgar at March 6, 2011 5:17 AM
I blame Glenn Reynolds and his "Porkbusters" campaign because all it did was to force Congressmen into the backrooms to get their pork bidness done.
The idea that we can stop Congressmen from directing tax dollars to their districts is naive.
At least with legislative earmarks out in the open, we could identify the abusers and voters had information. Now, it's all done behind closed doors, hush hush and voters are left in the dark.
Glenn should come clean and admit that Porkbusters was a huge failure.
someguy at March 6, 2011 5:54 AM
Steal from the taxpayers to insure our self-interested positions?
Yes we can!
Yet another of the many faces of Hope&Change.
BoBo from Texas at March 6, 2011 6:00 AM
They're looking to the example of Robert Byrd: biggest pickpocket the Senate ever had. He spent decades looting the rest of the country so he could put his name on stuff in WV and clowns like Moran like the idea.
Firehand at March 6, 2011 6:40 AM
psickological?
Some 30 years ago in grade school most of us were not only taught to spell but learned through social cues how to recognize when we were off topic.
You, Dick Leed, are of topic.
polifrog at March 6, 2011 7:06 AM
At least he respects ONE section of the Constitution.
Tom at March 6, 2011 8:00 AM
polifrog:
You misspelled "off" :-)
Don Rodrigo at March 6, 2011 4:21 PM
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