The Earmarks Thread

[The Senator]

You tree...hugging...hippie.

Spoiler

Hey, I don't think all defense spending should be cut. I think that we spend way too much on defense, and that everyone who complains about earmarks fails to see how much money goes to unnecessary defense projects all around the world. We appropriate billions to pay for private contractors to do the work of the U.S. military; we appropriate billions more for proposed missile shields opposed by the international community; we appropriate even more to purchase new equipment which is extremely outdated and should be improved (ironically, earmark opponents critique spending which goes to research these improvements).

All this spending makes up a significant part of our annual budget. But what does everyone complain about? Collective spending which equals less than a percentage of our overall annual budget. It is absurd.

 

[Marx]

Hey, I don't think all defense spending should be cut. I think that we spend way too much on defense, and that everyone who complains about earmarks fails to see how much money goes to unnecessary defense projects all around the world. We appropriate billions to pay for private contractors to do the work of the U.S. military; we appropriate billions more for proposed missile shields opposed by the international community; we appropriate even more to purchase new equipment which is extremely outdated and should be improved (ironically, earmark opponents critique spending which goes to research these improvements).

All this spending makes up a significant part of our annual budget. But what does everyone complain about? Collective spending which equals less than a percentage of our overall annual budget. It is absurd.

I always find that interesting too.

 

[danielisthor]

Hey, I don't think all defense spending should be cut. I think that we spend way too much on defense, and that everyone who complains about earmarks fails to see how much money goes to unnecessary defense projects all around the world. We appropriate billions to pay for private contractors to do the work of the U.S. military; we appropriate billions more for proposed missile shields opposed by the international community; we appropriate even more to purchase new equipment which is extremely outdated and should be improved (ironically, earmark opponents critique spending which goes to research these improvements).

All this spending makes up a significant part of our annual budget. But what does everyone complain about? Collective spending which equals less than a percentage of our overall annual budget. It is absurd.

I can agree with everything you said. What's suprising is that even though we spend more on Defense than we probably should, it's really the only aspect of our government that we actually get close to our money's worth.

Not all earmarks are worthless, there are a lot on that list that are viable research. I am fairly sure that spending $600,000 to study Cranberries and Blueberries are one of them. Or the one for Asparagus research. And I'm in the produce industry.


It was noted on Fox today that the Senate voted not to take pay raises this year. It also has to go through the House to pass, but I would like to give the Senate props for this.

 

[Marx]

'PIG BOOK' CALLS OUT TOP CONGRESSIONAL PORKERS
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/14/pig-book-calls-out-top-congressional-porkers/

 

[Marx]

REPORT: NO DECREASE IN EARMARKS
http://thehill.com/homenews/adminis...rks-despite-white-house-push-for-transparency

 

[Marx]

THE 2010 'PIG BOOK' HAS BEEN RELEASED
http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2010/04/pig_book_released_today_detail.html

 

[Kelly]

Yeah, I just heard that pork dropped by 15%....


Waiting for Obama to take full credit for this....