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Earmarks should be done away with immediately. These excessive pork-barrel projects that do nothing but directly affect a representative’s or senator’s constituents are one of the most dangerous components of our runaway spending bills. Who could support such silly things as bridges, schools and science? It’s unimaginable, and our congressmen should be red with shame.
In 2008 earmarks represented, by the most liberal of estimates, almost six-tenths of one percent of the federal budget. How absolutely decrepit of the 110th congress to assume we wouldn’t notice this sort of waste creeping into the appropriations bills. Maybe they thought they could hide all that money inside appropriations for larger projects like the War on Terrorism and state dinners. Thank the lord we have citizens like the good samaritans at Citizens Against Government Waste and John McCain who can spot wasteful spending like hawks.
Too bad McCain’s eyesight is fading. Otherwise he would’ve noticed the earmark the size of a Mack truck that was about to drive full force into the side of any one of his 13 cars when he “vetted” Sarah Palin. I don’t oppose earmarks or bridges, but I think we can all agree that a $398 million bridge servicing approximately 50 residents is a bit extreme. Even so, I mock Governor Palin not for wanting the Bridge to Nowhere, but because she denies wanting it -seriously, Sarah, those things are easily verifiable. You see, the tubes of the Internet are actually surprisingly easy to navigate. Any boneheaded governor would want $400 million for their state. When tapped to be the VP nominee for a major party, I wouldn’t suggest turning around and pretending you forgot most of your nonexistent past.
But I digress. My point is that earmarks are not, in fact, wasteful spending. Earmarks make ordinary citizens like you and me feel fuzzy inside. They’re what let us know our congressmen love us and care about us. They’re one of the few ways congressmen can effect immediate change at home, and earmarks often pay for important projects that are simply too large and costly to be funded at the state level.
So here’s my ultimatum: earmarks aren’t going to go away, so stop trying. Even if earmarks somehow did miraculously disappear out of the federal budget, it would only make about the same difference as someone who makes $45,000 a year cutting $250 out of their yearly budget or University of Maine cutting its cost per credit hour by $1.41. Sure, it might be nice to have that extra change in your pocket, but it won’t really make a huge difference, and the charge isn’t going to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Wouldn’t it be fantastic if, instead of whining about congressional earmarks the election hinged on something much more substantial? Maybe something that costs nearly as much per month as earmarks do per year. What’s that? There’s a war going on you say? Interesting .
William P. Davis is a first-year journalism and violin performance major
Bangor Daily News