Posted on 08/16/2007 7:37:04 AM PDT by lfrancis
High Risk Spending
August 13, 2007
Last week this column addressed the train wreck that federal spending has become. To score political points politicians will make loud noise about fairly small matters such as earmarks, even while refusing to address the real problem. Namely, that our federal government is too big and does too much. Politicians prefer to pass a bill or create a program every time somebody points to a new social problem, this way they can tell their constituents how much they are doing to help. Instead of rationally explaining the proper role of government, politicians have attempted to play the role of friend, preacher, parent, social worker, etcetera-- in essence, whatever any organized special interest can demand.
Waste, fraud and abuse are often easy targets. Everybody knows a story of the government doing something absolutely ridiculous and wasteful. Plus, recent headlines have been packed with stories of corruption in Washington.
One thing that has not drawn enough attention is the link between the size of government and the mismanagement that leads to wasted money. If the government was restrained within its proper constitutional functions, it would be far better managed and much more readily would proper oversight occur.
You see, while waste, fraud and abuse are very easy to attack, it seems they are much more difficult to actually address within the current federal behemoth. For example, the General Accounting Office puts out a “high risk list” and describes this list as programs with “vulnerabilities to fraud, waste and abuse and mismanagement.”
There are currently 27 programs and operations on this list, up from 26 last year. But here are the more surprising facts, the list was originated with 14 programs in 1990. Of those original 14 programs, from 17 years ago, only 8 have been removed. How can it be that 6 programs remain on such a list nearly two decades later? While government is supposed to move slowly, this is ridiculous.
What GAO is saying is that a problem exists, we have been aware of it for 17 years, and it is still not corrected. Of course, with the size and scope of federal activity, including attempting to rebuild societies in the middle east, and massively expanding federal involvement in education (along with thousands of other “programs”), it is small wonder that this list doesn’t really get addressed. Yet it does seem reasonable to ask “If you can’t stop waste in 6 federal programs after 17 years, how exactly will you improve local schools or foreign nations?”
In the time that the GAO list has existed, there have been 33 additions and a mere 18 removals, including two this year. Only when the people demand the federal government stop trying to meet any and all demands, and instead return to a constitutionally limited republic, will the list of programs subject to waste, fraud and abuse be dramatically reduced. While government will never be perfect, a limited government is far more able to not only identify problems, but to actually correct them.
Saw him on Cudlow explaining his earmarks. He claims it's better to have politicians select where money goes instead of bureaucrats.
I don't know.
Sounds like Ron Paul’s making excuses to me.
‘To score political points politicians will make loud noise about fairly small matters such as earmarks,’
Unbelievable, Obi Ron.
Where, exactly, Mr Constitution, is it written in your allegedly ‘favorite document’ that earmarks are allowable?
You claim its a ‘fairly small matter’ because you were outted as authorizing some of the more ridiculous earmarks in the current years budget. you hypocrite.
If its Monday, Wednesday, or Friday, Ron Paul is a Libertarian...unless of course there is a GOP fundraiser he will benefit from. Then, and only then, is he a Republican....a very hypocritical one at that.
Ron ain't no Jedi.
He's Darth Paul - the Sith Shrimp.
Just the latest lame rationalization from Mr. Constitutionalist. Tom Coburn puts all that blather to shame - Coburn walks the walk, unlike Darth Paul, drawn to the dark side of the Farce.
Err....um....earmarks are part of bills. Ron Paul votes against everyone of these bills.
Ron ain’t no Jedi.
He’s Darth Paul - the Sith Shrimp.
Yoooouuu don’t understand the Pooower of the Dorkside, young one.....
If only our taxes were spent on wild American shrimp instead of defense!
“because you were outted as authorizing some of the more ridiculous earmarks in the current years budget.”
Outted? He released them unlike the other 98% of the congress to chicken to do so.
‘Err....um....earmarks are part of bills. Ron Paul votes against everyone of these bills.’
Errr....um....earmarks are a large part of the reason we keep studying cow flatulence, keep building train museums where no trains have ever been seen....and Obi Ron’s abuse of that practice is now a known quantity.
And he didn’t vote against HIS earmarks, now did he?
We're aware of the full extent of his hypocrisy, thanks.
Few of the other 98 percent claim to the the committed Constitutionalist that Ron Paul claims. So this just shows that talk is a bunch of blather.
“because you were outted as authorizing some of the more ridiculous earmarks in the current years budget.”
Outted? He released them unlike the other 98% of the congress to chicken to do so.
Translation: He did as those he criticized.
Sorry, thats not an affirmative defense in my view.
Ron puts pork on a spending bill. The bill passes, but ron Murtha votes no. It is a stupid plan that fools only the living brain donors.
“Translation: He did as those he criticized.”
Translation: So your lie that he was ‘outted’ is still a lie. what else does a proven liar lie about? One wonders.
—snip—
Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey’s uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that’s about it.
—snip—
Ron puts pork on a spending bill. The bill passes, but ron Murtha votes no. It is a stupid plan that fools only the living brain donors.
Yep.
“Translation: He did as those he criticized.”
Translation: So your lie that he was ‘outted’ is still a lie. what else does a proven liar lie about? One wonders.
I’ve noticed a common theme among the Paulie Girls in this and other political forums.
Everything negative mentioned about this clown is a ‘conspiracy’.
Sorry, but you simply aren’t worth a lie to me. Your a screen name in a political forum, and as such don’t rate that kind of effort.
But y'all just keep up with the libel. Must be easier than actually having to be principled or trying to form a cogent thought.
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