Full of P**k

(Chapter 27)

Pork spending has been an ongoing issue in the United States government. Constantly, thousands of earmarks are weaved into bills trying to be passed. In 1997, Clinton “signed the first balanced-budget bill in two decades.” This bill was littered with billions of dollars worth of pork that was funded by U.S. taxes. Twenty-one billion dollars worth of taxes funded pork “emergency” spending. These emergencies included “ $ 3.35 billion to tackle the Y2K computer problem, $2.4 billion for antiterrorism activities, $6.8 billion to improve military readiness, and $5.9 billion in additional aid to farmers.” Now, some of these earmarks may seem important, but you must keep in mind that they were simply thrown into the bill without group discussion. We are talking billions of dollars of OUR taxes that are funding projects we didn’t vote on. Not to mention, the billions of dollars spent on pork issues that don’t even affect people in CT (discussed in the other blog entries). Earmarks are not to be taken lightly. They are a repulsive representation of how sneaky our government can be. Don’t let your tax dollars go to the funding of projects you are not even aware about. If you truly want to find out where all of your tax dollars are going to, sift through Obama’s 1400 page stimulus plan. (1)

Obama’s plan directly relates to Clinton’s signing of the balanced-budget bill because they are both FULL OF PORK! Although prior to Obama’s presidency he promised to only sign bills that are earmark-free, he has failed by approving the thousands of earmarks in his 2009 stimulus plan. It is comforting to know that your tax dollars are going towards the “$1.7 million fund for pig odor research in Iowa.” McCain’s response to this was bold but truthful, “So much for the promise of change, Mr. President. So much for the promise of change.” (2)

(Chapter 28)

On the opposite side of the coin, Jonathan Cohn discusses how pork barrel spending can attribute to society. Pork passed through bills is the only that the small town people can have their voice put into action. Without earmarks, the needs of lesser important people and issues would never be passed. If you look at the situation positively, with pork spending someone or some group of people are being helped. It may not be you, but sooner or later it could be.  At a press conference Shatz put it, “No matter how you slice it, pork is always on the menu in the halls of Congress.” (1) Essentially, almost every president has promised to eliminate pork spending but the reality is it will always be there. Pork spending opens up job opportunities and supports the interest of the individual. Without it, the common good of the people may not be expressed. Its simply too hard to pass thousands of individual bills on their own. In closure, it is important to recognize that one day you could be in the position where your rights are a piece of pork. 

 

 Sources:

(1) David T. Canon, John J. Coleman, Kenneth R. Mayer, ed., The Enduring Debate, 4th ed. (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2006), 161-173.

(2) http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/analysis-obama-mccain-relationship-deteriorates-2009-03-03.html