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Just a Company of American paratroopers, a guitar plugged
into the outpost's PA system, and a whole lot of demolitions.
Washington at Its Worst
By Ernest Istook Posted in Congress — Comments (94) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
My former colleagues in Congress wonder why nobody trusts them. The new farm bill contains a bumper crop of reasons.
They have pushed their heads so deep in the sand that there's no room in the soil to plant the seeds of recovery.
Forget the Bridge to Nowhere. This $300-billion giveaway farm bill is a far worse example of special-interest excess. It panders to every special interest group, at the expense of common-sense and contrary to the claims by many Congressmen and Senators that they would control spending.
Lobbyists deserve a bonus from their clients for extracting so much blood from the taxpayers through the farm bill.
It's incredible how the media are almost unanimous in condemning the bill, yet an oblivious Congress is overriding President Bush's veto quite handily.
Newspapers call the measure "a sham," "accounting tricks," "fit for the compost heap," "abhorrent spend-and-spend," "atrocious," "lucrative [for farmers] beyond expectations," and "this is not even the illusion of reform."
Congress is blind to all criticism and oblivious to outrage. Yet if ever there was an opportunity to reduce farm subsidies, it's now when farm income (and food prices) are at record highs. That would get positive public attention. Instead, Congress is trying (and failing) to buy love by expanding subsidies for millionaire farmers and worse.
Read On...
They use those higher prices to justify a $10-billion expansion of the Food Stamp program. Only 20% of the bill is about farming; the other 80% is Food Stamps and other nutrition programs which also badly need reform. We have almost 30-million Americans now on Food Stamps with no time limits and no work requirements, contrary to the principles of welfare reform. (The House Republican Study Committee just announced a long-needed effort to fix this.)
Back to farming. Future crop subsidies will be based on today's record-high prices, so that if prices go down farmers will take it as a loss and get government checks to make up the difference.
There's the $250 million tax credit for private land in Montana; $170-million for salmon fisheries in California (a Nancy Pelosi favorite); and a new $348-million subsidy for “cellulosic” ethanol. Plus more.
In this, and so many other bills this year, Congress is freely adding to the $400 billion (and up) annual federal deficit.
Both parties share the guilt for this travesty, even many normally conservative Republicans.
No one who voted for this should ever be called a conservative without an asterisk. A great big one.
Right on
by ekevlar11
Time to pull pen and paper and write again to your Congress critters.
Erik
Could someone offer tips
by MelZ
I have never written a letter to a Congressman after a vote I disagree with. Usually I write in support or opposition BEFORE the vote.
Could someone offer any tips on writing a "post" letter? Or actually writing a letter in general, as it is possible that my way of going about letter writing to political "leaders"could be the wrong way.
MelZ
MelZ
by ekevlar11
I lifted this directly from Samsara here http://www.redstate.com/blogs/dingo/2008/may/21/tom_cole_gets_slapped_do... it is well written. I put this in the same boat as praising good behavior and punishing bad.
To McMorris Rogers and Doc Hastings a negative message:
As a tax payer and a parent I take lowering government spending and reducing our debt seriously. I was disappointed to find that you joined many other Republicans in overriding President Bush’s Veto of the farm bill. We both know why you voted for this bill and why you should have voted against it. You can’t have it both ways. Either you are for balancing the budget and reducing the debt or you are not. Your position is inconsistent with the correct views of Reichert and many other members of the non pork barrel congress. I urge you to step up and take a consistent stand against deficit spending. Without such principled and bold actions you and your fellow Republicans may as well get used to minority status.
To Reichert a positive message:
As a tax payer and a parent I take lowering government spending and reducing our debt seriously. I was happily surprised that you broke ranks with Hastings and McMorris Rodgers and voted nay to allow President Bush to overturn the bill with a veto. Unfortunately, your principled stand was not echoed by others supposed Republicans in the House. I urge you to continue to step up and take consistent stands against deficit spending. Without such principled and bold actions you and your fellow Republicans may as well get used to minority status.
Erik
You could try something like this...
by smoker1
Dear Mush-for-Brains:
Stop wasting MY money. I worked hard for the money I send to Washington and you people just waste it like it's nothing. I'm sick of it and I will no longer vote for anyone in either party who votes for these big omnibus spending bills that are just one big pork barrel.
We are a great nation, but we could spend our way into obscrurity unless we are careful.
STOP SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY. MY MONEY.
Republican pols still don't get it.
by KyleH
The veto on this thing wasn't overridden by pulling a few maverick Republicans. It had huge Republican support including some in the leadership. They didn't learn a thing from 2006. I guess they enjoy being in the minority.
Absolutely dead on, Congressman
by E Pluribus Unum
Man, there's no use beating around the bush. Our Republicans are worthy of the shame they will eventually bear on this. Great words, sir!
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
nt
--------------------
Small is beautiful.
SteveLA posted the link in a previous blog
by ekevlar11
Marsha Blackburn voting yes?
by E Pluribus Unum
Ah......could somebody explain that one? I thought she was one of those up-and-coming conservative stars. I guess not.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
And I thought ya'll would
by Jim Tomasik
And I thought ya'll would NEVER notice this one.
Oink, Oink, Oink, Oink.
Oink.
Oink, Oink.
HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jim Tomasik
And I respond with Micah 7:8
by E Pluribus Unum
Do not rejoice over me, o my enemy. Though I fall, I will rise again.
Dude, at some point the GOP will return to its conservative roots, with national leaders espousing and explaining conservative principles which, interestingly, most Americans resonate to. Fred was just the warmup band. Jindal is coming.
And at that time we will be lighting you up like a pinball machine. OWNING all 3 branches for at least 20 years.
So cockiness is ill-advised, sport. You're just opening the door into your own face.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Marsha Blackburn has not fallen.
by Jim Tomasik
Yet.
How much is mud worth? She's willing to pay up to a cool grand.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/may/22/copious-request-speaks-...
She's digging up what she hopes will be mud in Memphis and getting ready to start throwing mudballs at her primary opponent Tom Leatherwood.
Let's all watch the rising star get her hands all icky.
Pass the popcorn, this is gonna be good.
Jim Tomasik
I may have just
by Jim Tomasik
threadjacked... If so, sorry 'bout that!
Jim Tomasik
Is that the best you can do?
by Neil Stevens
As far as I'm concerned, anyone who rejects someone who is good on 99% of the budget, merely for being bad on the 1% that is pork, needs his head screwed back on.
HTML Help for Red Staters
"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
a Purely Rhetorical Question....
by aceintx
a Purely Rhetorical Question....
I a Congressman votes to eliminate pork on 100 bills but votes to pass on bill that has all the pork from all those prior bills lumped into one...are they good on the 99% of the bills they didn't pass...or are the a 99% failure because he/she voted for the on bill that was larded up with all of them!
There's no right or wrong answer,,,but it would help me understand where you are coming from
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
AHHH...,y e and i keys don't always work...
by aceintx
Most of the "on"s above should be "one", an many for the "The"s are "they"
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
You miss the point
by Neil Stevens
If you add up all the pork identified by CAGW, an anti-pork group, the amount of money per year is only 1% of the money the government spends every year.
It's trivial from a small government, conservative budgeting perspective.
HTML Help for Red Staters
"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
So it's OK to keep pouring money into programs the Federal Government has no business funding because it's such a small amount?
I don't get it Neil, I'm not just throwing out rhetorical barbs, that's not my intent. I really don't get it!
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
It's a loss of perspective
by Neil Stevens
If you're going to take someone who apparently has a fantastic voting record on most every issue that comes up in Washington, and then mock her and call her names because of one minor little issue, then you have no perspective and are senselessly attacking one of your best friends in Washington.
So if pork is the worst criticism against Rep. Blackburn, then I say forget the critics, I'm on her side.
HTML Help for Red Staters
"If we want to take this party back, and I think we can someday, let’s get to work." – Barry Goldwater
that she is far more right than wrong, and that she is one of the good ones. Name calling should be reserved for people like Chafee
If we throw Blackburn and everyone to her left under the bus, there will barely be enough Republicans to host a decent poker game.
Another tip to Shays
by JamesLBurns
He's not perfect, but voting No on this just earned my rep another drop in the tip jar.
It's Republican support for bills like that keep from even considering giving $ to the national committees.
Dang
by The Fastest Squirrel
And I just sent Wittman (VA) some cash. How the hell does a guy stay on top of these guys? Hell, even TOM DAVIS (VA) voted "nay." I don't even know how to support individual candidates anymore... let alone the NRC.
Geez, lobbyists have
by nibblybits
Geez, lobbyists have hijacked the Farm Bill and filled it up with useless pork? And who has lobbyists running his campaign?
Did Vicki get anything in there?
DNC troll cleanup needed.
by Eric E. Coe
You are begging for a banning, after signing up only an hour ago.
Oh, is this Russia? I though
by nibblybits
Oh, is this Russia? I though there was still some freedom of speech around here. Are all Repubs supposed to think the same thing?
Citizen BLAM!
by E Pluribus Unum
PLINK!
If you were anything more significant than an irritating gnat that insists on buzzing around my ear, I'd use a higher-caliber weapon. Like:
BLAM!
But you don't rate.
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Take a good look. This is
by nibblybits
Take a good look. This is what a fiscal conservative looks like.
No this not Russia.
by Eric E. Coe
This is private property*, not a public commons, with clear posting rules, which I think you are violating (bullet 4 in the original list, plus possibly Erik's addendum). We'll see what the site owners think - it's their property, their rules are the law here.
* Liberals always seem confused about the concept of private property - I wonder why?
Are you gonna start crying?
by nibblybits
Are you gonna start crying? Because I'll be glad to hand you a tissue.
Let me send you a post card
by Jack Savage
"Wish you were here", because bandages, direct pressure and a paramedic is what YOU would need. Except you would have to be of legal age to take that beating, and we obey the law around here, son. And violence is not the answer, so forget I said that.
Mom will be home soon, so please log off her computer and do the yard like you promised. NOW.
Physical threats? Strange
by nibblybits
Physical threats? Strange guidelines around here if a differing opinion can't be tolerated but toothless posturing is deemed ok.
How about you just give it a rest.
by aaronbg
We know you are neither intelligent nor here for an actual debate of issues. We know this because you have displayed it over and over in your posts. You choose not to reply to direct question about your stances and instead rely on silly comments that lend zero substance to your claimed position. You are a guttersnipe who has no foundation of substance. You seem incapable of making any valid points. You need to learn how to respect the community here at RedState.
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
Hey, I TOLD you that violence is not the answer
by Jack Savage
And thinking out loud, then coming to the good, law-abiding, Christian solution is not a violation of posting guidelines.
How's that yard coming, son? I said NOW!
wow, as Dean Wormer might say;
by kyle8
Obnoxious, snarky and stupid is no way to go through life son.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
To all - Hinz Rule on this little irritant. <nt>
by E Pluribus Unum
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
You obviously have no idea
by jonlester
what the current state of affairs is in Russia. They could teach you a thing or two.
Don't nibble, don't bite
by blooch
It's all just wood and strings.
"ma deuce says no truce"
This is not the Soviet Union
by Marcus Traianus
First, a history lesson. The proper nomenclature would be the Soviet Union, not Russia. But of course you missed that in your endeavor to join the mooncalf hall of fame.
Lastly, I personally thought your link would surely be to Obama's record which amongst other things would indicate;
- In his Illinois Senate tenure (1996 to 2004), Obama received almost two-thirds of campaign money ($296,000 of $461,000) from PACs, corporate contributions, or unions including financial services firms, real estate developers, healthcare providers, oil companies, etc. (Illinois Board of Elections)
- Obama's US Senate Campaign Committee rose $128,000 from lobbyists and $1.3 million from PACs, 8% of his overall take (CRP)
- Obama's PAC (Hopefund), took about $115,000 from 56 PACs (2005-2006 election) out of $4.4 million overall. He then greased the Democratic wheels around the country with various contributions (FEC)
- Obama raised over $1.4 million from members of law, consultancy, et al firms led by partners who are registered lobbyists
I could do this all day, but it would be wasted on the intellectually infirm.
Change indeed. But facts are stubborn things.
Sorry Congressman, but this required a response
"Nec Aspera Terrent"
bene ambula et redambula
Contributor to The Minority Report
Thanks for the lesson, but I
by nibblybits
Thanks for the lesson, but I don't swing that way.
You'll have to aim your wide-stance foot tapping elsewhere.
And inferring that another commenter is a homosexual because they corrected your idiotic analogies is definitely a no no. Go back to Kos and leave politics to the big boys.
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
Yes, your Family Guy quotes
by nibblybits
Yes, your Family Guy quotes contribute a lot.
Due to their schooling you is not. Like I said before go back to Kos.
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
Hey nibblybits:
by Nina
You must be hanging with your girl, Speaker Nancy P., and exchanging those "uncustomarily (cackle, cackle, search the crowd for word..) crude" remarks (cackle, cackle, cackle)
Zip up your pants, [*HuffPo*] racist. <NT>
by Moe Lane
The Fuzzy Puppy of the VRWC. I've been usurped!
Republican supporters of this bill are betraying the party
by civil truth
Not to mention having lost their minds. If Republicans cannot stand up to spending control on a bill where the support among the American people for control is maximal, then these guys need to forget about running on a ticket of fiscal responsibiity.
Which means they are cutting their own throats, and thereby (to mix the metaphor) immolating the Republican party's position in Congress.
This puts even more pressure on the Presidential race. Our country can survive Republican disaster in Congress if we have a Republican president - and provide us time perhaps to create a new Contract with America - but we may go irreversibly down the tubes if a Republican congressional meltdown coincides with a Democratic president.
Though if that happens, the Congressional cowards will face a severe sentence at the Judgment seat for betraying their republican (small "r" intentional) duty for their 30 pieces of silver.
Thank your for your statements and for coming here to RedState, Rep. Istook. I wish we had more like you in Congress with intact gonads.
Do we know what the farm bill contains?
by Mark Kilmer
These Dems are idiots:
The Senate then was expected to follow suit quickly, but action stalled after the discovery that a 34-page section of the bill had been omitted from the printed bill sent to the White House. That means Bush vetoed a different bill from the one Congress passed, raising questions that the eventual law would be unconstitutional.
The sad thing about this is, that every Republican Congressman with even a friend of a farmer has a good chance of voting for this big government thing in an election year. It's one of the pitfalls of a Democracy: we own the votes and we give the elected officials the tools with which to buy our votes.
That's why McCain's position
by ekevlar11
On getting rid of the pork is one of the reasons I am behind him. Looking at all the comments on this thread it is the small government platform that Republicans are running away from. McCain would bring this back.
If he would veto every single pork barrel spending bill and ensure that legislation did not include earmarks the Republican brand would get some of its shine back.
Erik
If you were really against
by nibblybits
If you were really against pork, you should be supporting Ron Paul, who is the only true Republican in this race.
Don't forget that McCain was almost the Kerry's VP. Why do you think he and Lieberman are such good pals? They have that Dem VP run in common.
Nibbly's a Paultard!!!
by jdub19
" Got to love the Lord for making things like that."
Morally Compromised
Yeah, I'm the nutjob. Even
by nibblybits
Yeah, I'm the nutjob. Even though your guy, who claims to be a Reagan foot soldier, was almost the Dem VP.
Good luck with that.
I am against pork
by ekevlar11
But we need someone who can actually get the job done...not just vote no.
Erik
"Almost" counts for nothing
by sinz52
"Almost" counts for nothing in politics.
The fact remains that McCain is one of the few Republicans who dared to openly criticize the farm bill and vote against it. So far, he has been a profile in courage on this farm bill. And yet he continues to draw the wrath of conservatives for reasons of history that have very little to do with the situation we face today.
In all the outpouring of sympathy for Ted Kennedy, there are notes that Kennedy was able to work with Republicans on a wide variety of legislation. Nobody calls Kennedy a "sellout" to Democrats for working with Republicans. "Working with" is NOT the same thing as "surrendering to".
From what I see, a lot of the vituperation pouring down on McCain comes from exactly two sources: His refusal to pander to the religious fundamentalists like Dobson, and his refusal to pander to the nativists like Malkin and Tancredo. And guess what, I think that's good for McCain. The GOP can't build a 21st century party around Bible-thumping and Hispanic-bashing. Rank-and-file conservatives don't understand that those of us who oppose such scapegoating are really trying to save them from themselves.
well gee sinz
by kyle8
You go and have yourself a nice little McCain love fest. Me, I am going to remember all the many, many times he and his puppy dog Graham symbolically kicked me in the shins and called me names.
I think the ironic part is that after all that we get christian bashing, illegal immigration supporters like you telling us how we ought to support him.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
Has he said anything about it...or condemned the Repubs for not supporting the veto?
If he has I've missed it...I'll have to check!
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
My Republican Congressman
by itrytobenice
Representative Blunt thinks he is from a safe district and won't have to face a viable challenger, but I would remind him that Tom Foley thought he was safe as well.
If our Republican reps won't stand up for the taxpayers, they will lose just like those guys in the special elections.
And I'll just rub his nose in it.
I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful 100 percent.
100 Republicans !
by FWGuy
Just remember the words - 100 Republicans voted to over-ride the Bush Veto !!
100 Republicans !
or
1/2 of the House GOP Caucus !!
Amazing
by Bob Frazier
We as small government republicans have to do something. The party leadership has sold out.
A good question is will anybody do anything.
And the republican losses keep mounting up.
This move to the center means using and feeding government.
At what point do we say no and actually put actions behind it? I'll be honest. I don't see anything being done. Just a lot of Obama derangement syndrome while the republicans go spending on.
In defense of those 100 Republicans...
by birdmojo
It's not like they were voting against similar Farm Bills when they were in the Majority.
Man is free at the moment he wishes to be. --Voltaire
message thet we've had enough of their lies!
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
555 - nt
by gamecock
Mike DeVine’s Charlotte Observer columns
http://thehinzsightreport.com
www.theminorityreportblog.com
www.race42008.com
"One man with courage makes a majority." - Andrew Jackson
Why am I not surprised that the..
by From ME to you
two Democratic Representatives from Maine (Allen& Michaud) voted to override????
Laudator Temporis Acti
What About Those Energy Hearings Yesterday?
by Spartan4Life
As bad as the Farm Bill is, and it is a putrid stinker, those Energy hearings put on full display what is wrong with our Congress. It was hilarious to watch those dinosaurs getting their fannies handed to them by the oil executives. It was very clear that they have no clue how to solve any of the problems. And what is the average age up there, about 85? The GOP is even more embarassing because they can't knock these guys out.
Oh, by the way, we're going to sue OPEC for anti-trust. That ought to help, LOL.
Absolutely 5555555555!
by E Pluribus Unum
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
I'm sure the Saudis are shaking in ...
by From ME to you
their dishdashas!!!!
omnia dicta fortiora si dicta Latina
The Spinless Have Always Been Here
by jimmuy8
This reminds me of the debate back when the Republicans had just won the House and the question was whether Mexico deserved MFN status.
Mexico's absolute and utter failure to do anything about the flow of drugs was more than enough reason to yank it.
Clinton supported it, many Republicans were against it, Rush was against it--and yet, business as usual: Republicans cave.
Same old, same old.
That's when I knew the GOP would never beat Clinton--they didn't really want to. Same people today, they just don't really care if they beat the Democrats--at anything!
And look at them today: Three huge broadsides as they lose in safe districts, a gaping hole in the stern unfixed since 2006, and they are more concerned with who gets the silverware before she sinks.
great analogy
by aceintx
CFR, Amnesty, Spending, Corruption,
Earmarks, Socialized Medicine:
”Your Silence Is Your Consent!”
Republican Disaster
by sidneyc
This farm bill is the final nail in the coffin of congressional Republicans. This TOTAL atrocity of pork makes it quite clear that Congress needs to be figuratively blown up and we need to start over. It is hopeless. The gutless wonders that currently inhabit Washington aren't worth the powder to blow them to hell.
They have NO concern about future generations, let alone the current ones.
I am voting either Libertarian or for Bozo the Clown as a write in this November for all federal offices. Just like overgrown forests have to be cleaned out by massive forest fires from time to time, Congress needs to be cleaned out from top to bottom. Let it BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The problem with
by nibblybits
The problem with Congressional Repubs was they at least had something with the Contract with America, but two seconds they abandoned it for free Caribbean trips from lobbyists. (Yeah, the Dems are worse, but there isn't that sense of betrayal from them.) Now the leader is Boehner. BOEHNER!! Give me a break! Who is the moral compass in Congress?
Frankly, it's Ron Paul, but since he's not 'mainstream' you don't want anything to do with him. You'd rather sell your souls to Mitt Romney and John McCain and John Boehner. Well, now you have to live with it.
"Land of the Free and Home of da Whopper" Peter Griffin...Family Guy
conform and celebrate diversity....or else!!!
problem with Paul
by Nina
tries to present a message worthy of debate and discussion, but a poor messenger
We need a catch-phrase!
by Ernest Istook
Thanks for the comments.
Just as "The Bridge to Nowhere" became a catch-phrase and thus a symbol, this farm bill deserves elevation to similar notoriety.
We need a nicely-turned phrase that sums it up. I'm looking for suggestions.
Just to start the process, here's some ideas (although not very great ones!):
"No Farm Left Behind"
"Fields of Gold"
You can do better than these, so please try!
UFCB
by Marcus Traianus
United Farm Cadge Bill
or we could simply go with the United Hoers Farm Act (demurring to contemporary semantics).
"Nec Aspera Terrent"
bene ambula et redambula
Contributor to The Minority Report
how about?
by kyle8
Ethanol subsidies, Crucifying America on a cross of Corn!
Agriculture Subsidies! Because it's nice to have the taxpayers pay your bills.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
BTW congressman
by kyle8
go to this site http://impudent.blognation.us/blog/_archives/2006/9/19/2339782.html
to see a well researched attack on agriculture subsidies.
I know you already have access to this knowledge, but I tried to put all the info in a concise and amusing format.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
The Grand 2008 Taxpayer Theft
by E Pluribus Unum
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Grand Theft Taxpayer 08 - NT
by swglaw
The power to tax is the power to destroy.
I like! <nt>
by E Pluribus Unum
Unfair. Unbalanced. Unmedicated. -- IMAO
Public Choice Theory 101
by chemjeff2
Folks, this is Public Choice Theory 101.
Public choice theory is often referred to when discussing how individual political decision-making results in policy that conflicts with the overall desires of the general public. For example, many special interest and pork barrel projects are not the desire of the overall democracy. However, it makes sense for politicians to support these projects. It may benefit them psychologically as they feel powerful and important. It can also benefit them financially as it may open the door to future wealth as lobbyists (after they retire). The project may be of interest to the politician's local constituency, increasing district votes or campaign contributions. The politician pays little to no cost to gain these benefits, as they are spending public tax money. Special interest lobbyists are also behaving rationally. They can gain government favors worth millions or billions for relatively small investments. They face a risk of losing out to their competitors if they don't seek these favors. The taxpayer is also behaving rationally. The cost of defeating any one government give-away is very high, while the benefits to the individual taxpayer are very small. Each citizen pays only a few pennies or a few dollars for any given government favor, while the costs of ending that favor would be many times higher. Everyone involved has rational incentives to do exactly what they're doing, even though the desire of the general constituency is opposite.
Right now, to the politician (R or D), the benefits of pork outweigh the costs. It will take more than just a handful of Republican agitators on Internet blogs to adjust the cost-benefit balance sheet.
The problems are this:
1) We already see Republicans losing in previously safe districts and the other Congress people do not connect this to out of control spending, but prefer to find other scenarios. How many defeats will be needed to get that message across since each of these are local races with their own local overtones?
2) What is the voter to do when both candidates are spenders. How does one get a clear message across then? When your protest against spending will result in a bigger spender taking office, how does this advance the message?
This public choice theory explains much, so long as you don't get cultic about it and try to annoint it a "Theory of Everything" - other non-rational factors do enter in as well. Thanks for mentioning it; I hadn't heard the term before
dumber than a mule because they are still not getting it.
"Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty"
Kyle
sugar
by WallySobchak
How can anyone vote for a bill that requires us to buy up excess sugar at 24 cents a pound and sell it to ethanol producers at 2 cents a pound? It kills 3 jobs for every job it saves.
One silver lining
by sinz52
At the national level, Obama supported the farm bill, McCain opposed it.
If you really believe that the public would support smaller government, now is our chance to prove it. Let McCain make an issue of it, and take his case to the people.
Obama and his advisers aren't dumb. If they think this farm bill will backfire on them, they won't publicize his vote. If McCain and his advisers think that his vote against it will backfire on him, he won't publicize his vote.
Let's watch and see.
This lefty says it's crap
by LiberalLurker
See, this is what gives bipartisanship a bad name. Both sides say to the other "I'll turn a blind eye to the crap you put in the bill if you turn a blind eye to the crap we put in the bill." The net result is that both sides get a few things they want and as a result have to put up with a ton of crap.
This warrants a 5. Only quibble ..?
by Martin A. Knight
Both sides turning blind eyes towards each other's corruption and bad policy is a feature, not a bug, of Bipartisanship™.
"First you win the argument, then you win the vote." - MARGARET THATCHER.
So let's start winning the argument.
My Republican Congressman
by jarrod21
Kenny Marchant is on the "Nay" side of things. I'll make sure to send off a nice letter thanking him for having the courage to vote his principles.
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Until Republicans start taking fiscal responsibility seriously, the voting public will never take Republicans seriously.
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