I was sent some interesting, and maybe a bit comical, articles yesterday about how the government is spending our money.
The first was about Chinese prostitutes and cotton farmers. The article starts by asking, “How can the big spenders still call proposed budget cuts draconian?” The US is paying $2.6 million to train Chinese prostitutes to drink responsibly on the job, and also an estimated $147.3 million to Brazilian cotton farmers (a result of a last minute deal from a trade dispute).
Next I read an article on House members giving out bonuses to staff, spending about $21.5 million over budget on office payroll for the fourth quarter in 2010. Lawmakers who were defeated or retiring were paid an average bonus of $4,000 and the returning was paid an average of about $2,300.
Next, I read an article reporting that the number of limos used by the government increased by 73 percent during the first two years of the Obama Administration. The GSA, General Services Administration, says that the number of recorded limos is unreliable and that the increased number of limos is for the safety of government officials in a ‘dangerous world’.
Just because I discussed Anthony Weiner in a previous post, I read an article titled: Members-Only House Gym Subsidized by Taxpayers. Weiner admitted to taking his dirty pictures while at the members-only House gym. The gym is equipped with flat screen TVs, workout machines, and a swimming pool. This is amenity is provided because ‘important work gets done there’.
Lastly, I read an article on how much money was spent on social security overpayments: $6.5 billion in one year. Improper payments totaled $125 billion last year, when in 2009 was totaled $110 billion. Errors like this are an abuse of tax payer’s money, and it also puts these benefits to risk from the people who need them in the future.
I think it is fair for the House members to receive bonuses and have perks like gyms, they are very hard working people and to make good decisions they need to be at their best 24/7. If we are going to provide perks like gyms and limos with our tax money, they should never be used for irresponsible play (i.e. topless pictures). And to be honest, there is no logical reason as to why the amount of money spent from improper payments has increased so much in the past few years; it is an abuse of tax payer’s money. And they want to raise our taxes?
This is insane? Really? Is the study on Chinese prostitute's drinking habits really the important to us as a nation? I cannot stress enough that we must focus on our country before we butt our noses into others'.
ReplyDeleteAnd maybe if our politicians actually did their jobs instead of sending half naked photos to underage girls and had babies out of their marriages then we wouldn't have so many overpayments increasing year after year.
Yes it is true. I believe in helping other countries but we are in a deficit and do not need to be spending tax payers money on studies such as drinking habits of Chinese prostitutes.
ReplyDeleteThe article that really got me was the one on overspending! I understand there always need to be margin for error but why such the difference from 2009? That's our money!