Off on the Wrong Foot

I have been weary of writing about Obama because, while I didn't vote for him I am of the mindset of "give the guy a chance." I want to like him. I want him to succeed and lead our country well. Really I do. I keep thinking if I click my heels three times, I can somehow make the news change.

But alas, I can't. I simply can not understand how in less than a month in office he can break just about every single promise he made.

I won't go into the cabinet choices. Some I think are spot on and amazing choices. Others I scratch my head and wonder what was he smoking??

Let's simply focus on the stimulus package. Or as I have been told by a few of my liberal friends "the bill that will get us back on track"
How exactly can we get back on track when he is spending almost 900 billion....with a B, in pork?
Here are some links so you don't just take my word for it.

http://www.propublica.org

http://3.bp.blogspot.com

http://www.ireport.com

Let us start with where the money is going. Because most people are surprised to know that it isn't going into their wallets. No kids, it's not. No rebates for the middle and lower classes, students.
No, every penny of this colossus mistake WILL be paid by you, me, your parents, children, grandchildren and perhaps your pets someday, when they figure out how to tax them too.
I'm not even going to comment on the absurd and silly of the list. Things like

$500,000 for dog parks
$4.5 million for butterfly gardens
$6 million for water slides
$1 million for a frisbee golf course
$25 million to rehabilitate off-roading (ATV) trails

No, I'll focus on the big ticket items.

• A $246 million tax break for Hollywood movie producers to buy motion picture film.

(Is this a joke? Really. Does Hollywood REALLY need more money? I mean seriously!)

• $650 million for the digital television converter box coupon program.

(I understand the need for this. I know why it's being done. But simply adding cable will fix the problem. $650 M is a tad bit excessive)

• $88 million for the Coast Guard to design a new polar icebreaker (arctic ship).

(I understand this too, but right now the Coasties need a new Arctic ship like I need a hole in my head. How exactly does this help the economy?)

• $448 million for constructing the Department of Homeland Security headquarters.

(you remember them right? That very same department that the dems and the Obama camp deems UnAmerican)

• $248 million for furniture at the new Homeland Security headquarters.

(Considering Homeland Security has been in existence since 9/11, I'm pretty sure their furniture isn't falling apart yet not to mention, can't they use SOME of the $448 M for desks and chairs? So in total, they are getting $696 Million to decorate. Not actually fight terrorism)

• $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees.

(noble and necessary HOWEVER, the majority of federal vehicles are vans and trucks. Not exactly fuel efficient. But, for arguments sake at least if they give them all Prius' them maybe they will stop using them for personal use or, are they going to buy all of us who are federal employees personal cars to set the example?)

• $400 million for the Centers for Disease Control to screen and prevent STD's.

($400M for STD's? are we serious?)

• $1.4 billion for rural waste disposal programs.

• $125 million for the Washington sewer system.

• $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities.

(I have no problems with this one. I for one fully support the arts and museums and think America's Attic which is free to the public can use the funds, however I do wish they would take the frisbee park, water slide and butterfly garden money and spend it here as well)

• $1 billion for the 2010 Census, which has a projected cost overrun of $3 billion.

(this rubs me the wrong way. Because it's not only for the census, but the redistribution of district lines)

• $75 million for "smoking cessation activities."

(Look, people need to quit smoking. I agree however if they want to kill themselves that is not the governments concern. If they have health insurance of their own. I'm sick and tired of the government stepping in and holding our hands on every single decision we make.)

• $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges.

(uh...which community colleges? Considering they receive tuition they usually have computer centers. Besides, "college expenses" which your financial aid covers, includes computers. So a little redundant)

• $75 million for salaries of employees at the FBI.

• $25 million for tribal alcohol and substance abuse reduction.

(Seriously, it's time the government takes a hard stand here. Either let them govern themselves or fully fund the tribes. I'm sick of the government spending billions on the reservations, yet receiving not a penny back in taxes from the casinos, and other business ventures we can't stay on the fence forever.)

• $500 million for flood reduction projects on the Mississippi River.

(the Mississippi floods people. Why on Gods green Earth do I have to pay for stupid people who build homes next to places that historically flood ALL the time? I live in an area that floods, so I have to have insurance. Why don't these people?)

• $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas.

(state issue. Not a federal issue)

• $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings.

(I am all for going "green" but how does this help the economy again?)

• $500 million for state and local fire stations.

(another one I have no issues with. But I would like to add that the stations aren't where the money should go...it SHOULD go to the firemen who work there. But it won't)

• $650 million for wildland fire management on forest service lands.

(I lived in Eastern Oregon, in the mountains. So this I understand when many, many others do not. Underbrush burns. Cluttered underbrush is what causes the devastating fires. The problem, the "go green" set don't like people coming in and "destroying" the natural forest. So, while they earmarked money for it....it will never go to what it's intended. The tree huggers will see to that)

• $1.2 billion for "youth activities," including youth summer job programs.

(24 is not YOUTH. I have problems with this one in general because it's targeted to a select few. I think it's excessive and will fail.)

• $88 million for renovating the headquarters of the Public Health Service.

(more redecorating for federal buildings)

• $412 million for CDC buildings and property.

(someone in Senate must have an interior designer for a second cousin and they REALLY need a job)

• $500 million for building and repairing National Institutes of Health facilities in Bethesda, Maryland.

(redecorating AGAIN)

• $160 million for "paid volunteers" at the Corporation for National and Community Service.

• $5.5 million for "energy efficiency initiatives" at the Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration.

(more "green" buildings. Ok, that's good but again it's not going to help the economy. I'm seeing a trend here. )

• $850 million for Amtrak.

(Why? Please tell me why? Amtrak pissed away all their money the LAST time they were given a handout. What was that...15 years ago? Right after the handout the canceled service, not expand it. No, check that...they did expand back East, and they cut 90% of their service in the West)

• $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint.

(where? Military housing? Doubt it. I've lived in a home with lead based paint. Military housing, I didn't lick the walls. Problem fixed for free)

• $75 million to construct a "security training" facility for State Department Security officers when they can be trained at existing facilities of other agencies.

(They are trained already at perfectly good facilities. Quantico is decent..ever heard of it?)

• $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems.

(how about instead of upgrading the computers, we help out....here's a wacky idea...the FARMERS)

• $200 million in funding for the lease of alternative energy vehicles for use on military installations.
(again these are federal vehicles. I think this has been covered already to the tune of $600 million. That money would be far better spent on military paychecks, upgrading the substandard housing (especially for low enlisted families who can't afford off base housing) build more homes, so people aren't on waiting lists for two years)


So while I want more than anything to say "way to go Mr. President" I simply can't. I don't understand why he can't tell us about the earmarks in this package. This package isn't going to help anyone except some contractors and Hollywood. The rest of us will suffer for it. NOTHING in this package will "restart" the economy.

So ends my political rant for today. I don't like discussing politics because quite frankly, it's exhausting. I will attempt to limit how much politics I have on my blog because I don't have the energy to discuss it.