Democrats Swim Against Anti-Earmark Tide

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Any federal money for an individual state is absolutely wrong. Let's suppose there are 3 states:
state 1 want $ for roads
state 2 wants money for schools
state 3 wants money for healthcare
the feds decide that they will "earmark" 100.00 to each state for these pet projects. Therefore:
state 1 gets nothing for schools and healthcare
state 2 gets nothing for roads and healthcare
state 3 gets nothing for roads and schools.
Everyone gains a little and loses a lot.
No individual state should get special money. The federal government should never hand out money unless it is going to benefit a majority of Americans across all state lines. It is almost sinful that my state gets 100 million dollars for something but my neighbor in the next state over gets none of this boondoggle. Get my drift?

DrJoel1 of OH 11:37PM November 19, 2010

It is amazing how few people have common sense. If you're going deeper into debt, quit spending so much. It's just that simple - except of course when you're already umpteen trillion dollars in debt and no amount of taxation is going to pull us out.
My community and state take care of Education - let's cut the US DOE.
My state has a Department of Agriculture - let's cut the USDA
My state has a Department of Natural Resources - let's cut the EPA.
My state has a Department of Transportation - let's get rid of the US DOT.
Obviously, this is not a short term fix, but we need to start shrinking the Federal government and sending government back where it belongs - close to the voters.
But hey, the idea of adding a U.S. Dept. of Youth is positively brilliant.

Jim of MI 6:06PM November 18, 2010

It is beyond my understaning why the White House does not respond to a suggetion considered "brilliant" by most? Could it be that President Obama doesn't know about it yet, when we tried every means of straight communication - registered mail, e-mails, copis to Michelle, his team, etc. - to get to him since even before his election?
I refer, of course, to the suggestion to create an independent U.S.DEPT.OF YOUTH or Youth & Sports even by Executive Order! Even poor countries have it. It's not only good for the Country, but revitalize the Youth's political participation rather than defection, let alone boost President Obama's voting base, given that it is the Youth that put him there!!!
Could it be that those surrounding him have other agendas? Had this endeavor been set in place before the mid-elections, I doubt that the Republicans would have won. And I'm not the only one to think so. What is happening to the beautiful American Dream? We thought that American Politicians would be less selfish than in oher countries. Thanks God the War on Ignorance is florishing but too slow for today's era.
Do we really need the mass taking over the streets again in order to accomplish the notion that Humanity prevails? Haven't we shed enough blood already while also desappointing and even alienating the rest of the world? No wonder that votes are being bought based on mispercepion of what a Social-Democracy does! namely, keeping in control the greedy Capitalism feeding milking the people to the tilt! What happened if nobody will buy anymore the mass-produced goods, let's say for a month or even more? An experiment worthwhile consoidering, nevertheless.
Come one people... one cannot repeat blindly "CUT THE TAXES" when by doing this civilizations's infrastructure would succomb! No Police, no Health Programs, not enough schools...no public transportation, etc., and yet demand clean streets, safety protection, good healthcare, etc. Private corporatiion care only to make their money and streamline anything else.
You, We, the poor and middle class included! WAKE UP, PEOPLE, there must be a balance somewhere which did work for awhile quite well. Radicalism and Extremism never served the people's well being.

Ray Arco of CA 1:36PM November 18, 2010

He hasn't had to. He is bought and paid for by big industry and banks (i.e. Handing out checks on the House floor to his fellow Republicans from the tobacco industry). He can get reelected without doing a thing for his constituents and still have a lot of money, free trips and an orange tan.

Tree Hugger of CO 10:16AM November 18, 2010

We need to push for the 28th amendment that states unequivocably that: "There shall be no mixing of appropriation bills". In that any spending bills must fall underneath a general heading, ie: Defense, Health, Education. then all the states can put in their requests. I believe that this would do a lot to set a strong guideline which would make all legislators accountable and provide much better transparency

Dr. Paul J. Conway of MD 9:38AM November 18, 2010