After watching "60 Minutes" recently, I was shocked at the amount of squandered funds being dispensed in the name of "homeland security." Oh, what a bottomless pork barrel.
The avarice that was shown by local officials in that piece was shocking -- and the actions of the legislators in each instance to get their portion of the pie for their states, only to get re-elected, overshadowed the local officials' actions.
I recently heard on the news that airports are getting ready to eliminate hundreds of security jobs. The hassle of arriving early, standing in line and having to be scanned is a pain. But remember the weapons of destruction on Sept. 11? Planes, hello.
Why not take the funds allocated to Oklahoma for harbor security (a landlocked state) and pay qualified personnel to do the security work at the airports? This is only one example of the waste; there are a hundred more.
I thought the whole idea behind the Homeland Security Commission was homeland security. What did I miss? This is just another example of our government at its finest.
Willford Warren Jr.
Reidsville
Comments (5)
Government at its finest ...repubs... not! What do you expect from repubs - they are big government - big spenders - they are just doing what comes naturally - but in a christian way of course.
Posted by yellowdog | April 28, 2005 9:11 AM
Republicans are "big government?"
Not so, that's the domain of the Democrats, you need to brush up on PoliSci 101.
I'd explain it to you, but it's not my responsibility to edify or inform you.
Posted by Trevor | April 28, 2005 9:58 AM
I admit that I lean more to the republican side. I voted for George Bush in 2 elections.
But I agree that there is a problem with how these Homeland Security funds are being used. This reminds me of the old 'liberal' way of just throwing money at a problem. I hate to see that the Republicans have adopted the same trend.
I think the original idea was a good one, but the follow through has been awful. (much like the war in Iraq).
I don't think this can be entirely laid at the feet of Republicans, though. There are a lot of democrats out there grasping for their share of the pork from Homeland Security, too.
I just think it is a shameful waste of taxpayer money. Regardless of who is wasting it.
Posted by mr t | April 28, 2005 10:45 AM
Let me correct myself. I actually voted for George Bush in 4 elections. Oh, pity me.
Posted by mr t | April 28, 2005 10:46 AM
Trevor,
I think they are rewriting those PoliSci 101 books as we speak to take into account the last few years.
Big Government pork is a mechanism for those in power to stay in power. The Repub are in power right now. Pork to a politician is as addictive as heroin. You may want to believe that Repubs are different but reality proves you wrong.
Posted by Marshall | April 30, 2005 7:45 AM