The following comment was posted in another blog page. I thought it deserved a full-throated response.
Ed,
This is my major gripe..Republicans who claim fiscal conservatism. voted against the stimulus,..but still earmark funds, and lobby for constituents to get stimulus funds.
Hey, I will vote and donate $$$ to a candidate, incumbent who, votes for reduced spending, AND does not earmark, doe not lobby for government spending for his district!!
I worked as a contractor at two Federal Agencies..IT IS MY DEEPLY HELD BELIEF: you can eliminate 40.0% of the Federal Civilian Work Force…and the work would get done. The feather bedding is that pervasive!!!!
So where are you on this????
Believe me, when I write the check for my taxes I fume about the pork-barrel spending in which both parties indulge. It’s common for pols to invoke “the children” for this policy or that, but my children right this minute will owe at least $40,000 – and this is just the debt that the Federal government has on the books. Unfunded liabilities are a looming concern that dwarfs even this figure.
I will not support the earmark system that Congress has been engaged in. It is secretive, not transparent and too often wasteful. I do not believe in robbing Peter’s kids and grandkids to pay for Congressman Paul’s memorial rock garden and recycling center. This is is a terrible crime.
A caveat – the private sector does not have the capacity to fund certain types of projects, like dams, levies and bridges. I would much rather these infrastructure projects be managed and funded by the states and I think we need to move in that direction. However I will be less hostile to projects that have an effect on a broad swath of America’s citizens, not a payoff to a local group of supporters.
As to public sector employees – I don’t know about the percentage you cite, but I know that there are many good, entrepreneurial people working in the public sector who would be far more productive in the public sector. The private sector has to trim labor costs but during this recession the only industry reliably gaining jobs and raising pay is State and Federal government. Many of my friends and colleagues are starting businesses or finding new career paths after being laid off in across-the-board layoffs. They will survive and thrive because they are Americans and that’s what we do. I see no reason why public servants should be exempt from this economic reality.
I am going to need the vigorous support of fiscally responsible men in women like you in the days ahead. I will not be buying the support of politically active groups with earmarks nor am I promising to. My opponent does and will, an egregious example being the $90 million in subsidies his brother is slated to get for his wind farm.
That’s a lot of scratch. Politically connected folks need only peel a few layers of bills off that fat, taxpayer-funded wad of cash to bankroll a politician. Those who are used to the free-flowing milk and honey from the taxpayer are going to scream and whine like the world is ending. The moment I lay my hand on that spigot the press will stick a camera in their face and they will lament that I am against sunshine and rainbows. We’ll have to gut-check ourselves daily and not waver from the task of saving our financial future. I’m up for the challenge, but I’ll need your continued support.
Thank you for the excellent question.
P.S. For the record, I am for sunshine and rainbows.
