ParrotHead Posted April 11, 2005 Report Share Posted April 11, 2005 http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=reports_pigbook2005 Every year the Citizens Against Government Waste publishes their annual list of federal pork-barrel spending. It's called the Congressional Pig Book – the link to the site and the full report are above. To get an idea where your hard-earned tax dollars are going, it's worth taking a look at what made this year's list. In a list of some 14,000 pork projects, supported by politicians of both parties, the total tab for this year's spending is $27.3 billion. With a national debt in the trillions and an annual deficit of hundreds of billions, this is all the more outrageous because it's borrowed money. So not only are politicians buying votes with pork-barrel spending, but they're financing it. So now future generations will pay interest on today's pork. At any rate, here are some of the projects that made the list: ·$3,000,000 for the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. That's interesting...I thought foundations were for private, charitable foundations. And since when is Cal Ripken's dad hurting for cash? ·$6,300,000 for wood utilization research. Now in a society and economy that relies on housing as the one of the sole indicators of how the economy is doing, you would expect we wouldn’t have to research how to use wood! ·$2,000,000 to buy back the Presidential Yacht, the USS Sequoia. What you want to guess we bought and paid for it once – now we have to buy it back? And has anyone seen this yacht? It’s nice but you can get a whole lot more yacht for 2 mil than what this one offers! ·$1.7 million for the International Fertilizer Development Center. With all the crap in Washington, you'd think they'd have all the free fertilizer they need. ·$100,000 for the Tiger Woods Foundation. Tiger Woods was the highest-paid athlete in the world last year, with earnings of $80 million. Why you and I need to kick in a hundred grand for his foundation is beyond me. The list goes on and on. There are some that are outraged at the list of wasteful spending, but just pause and ask yourself. Do you expect your Congressman or woman to "bring home the bacon?" Perhaps you're part of the crowd that thinks government spending is free money, and everyone should get their "fair share." Check out your state and see where the pork spending is going – you’ll be amazed. Oh, and when it comes to government spending, there no longer is any difference between Democrats and Republicans. In fact, Republicans are the biggest spenders in this nation's history. Write your Congressman today and request that they either get on board with the Republican plan of small government or they’ll be replaced shortly with someone that is on the plan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slugshooter Posted April 11, 2005 Report Share Posted April 11, 2005 Re: YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK [ QUOTE ] $3,000,000 for the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. That's interesting...I thought foundations were for private, charitable foundations. And since when is Cal Ripken's dad hurting for cash? [/ QUOTE ] FYI. Cal Ripken Sr. is dead. I am sure the foundation was set up to provide donations for people who suffer from whatever he died of. Doesn't mean I agree with the 3 Million though. And like Parrothead said, both parties suck at spending money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted April 11, 2005 Report Share Posted April 11, 2005 Re: YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK I'm proud to say that on a per capita basis, Texas gets the LEAST amount of federal pork. BTW - We're also a heavily Republican controlled state. Every statewide office is held by a Republican, both house of the Texas legislature is Republican controlled, both US Senators are Republican and the majority of US Representatives are Republican. Hey, maybe everyone should just sit back and let Texas run the country! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingInMaine Posted April 12, 2005 Report Share Posted April 12, 2005 Re: YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] $3,000,000 for the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation. That's interesting...I thought foundations were for private, charitable foundations. And since when is Cal Ripken's dad hurting for cash? [/ QUOTE ] FYI. Cal Ripken Sr. is dead. I am sure the foundation was set up to provide donations for people who suffer from whatever he died of. [/ QUOTE ] Actually this foundation just lets kids play baseball and softball. They claim they are trying to give kids the chance to learn baseball the "Ripken way" which will instill positive character traits. I can think of better ways this money could be spent.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted April 13, 2005 Report Share Posted April 13, 2005 Re: YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK [ QUOTE ] They claim they are trying to give kids the chance to learn baseball the "Ripken way" which will instill positive character traits. I can think of better ways this money could be spent.... [/ QUOTE ] Yep, I could too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParrotHead Posted April 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2005 Re: YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK For those that don't know - I coach Little League Baseball so ya think I could get on board with the Cal Ripken way and get me a little of that $3mil??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntingInMaine Posted April 13, 2005 Report Share Posted April 13, 2005 Re: YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK [ QUOTE ] For those that don't know - I coach Little League Baseball so ya think I could get on board with the Cal Ripken way and get me a little of that $3mil??? [/ QUOTE ] As long as you teach it the "Ripkin way", you should be all set! LOL You can get some really cool looking uniforms for your team! Seriously though, I think it is great that kids get to play sports, but does it really cost that much $$$$? Or does the ripkin foundation have some really well paid staff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10acboy Posted April 14, 2005 Report Share Posted April 14, 2005 Re: YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK With all this spending we should make our own group, request some aid and then each one of us could go on our "dream hunts". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ParrotHead Posted April 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2005 Re: YOUR TAX DOLLARS AT WORK [ QUOTE ] With all this spending we should make our own group, request some aid and then each one of us could go on our "dream hunts". [/ QUOTE ] We can call it - The Realtree Send Everyone on a Hunt Foundation"! Now yer talkin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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