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Worst Political Decade Ever?
The decade of 2000…what can I say? In personal terms, I began the decade with graduating from high school and heading off to college. Midway through the decade (2004 to be exact), I graduated college and headed off to New York with hopes that I would complete graduate school and live the city life. Of course, as we knew fate kicked its golden heels in my plans for good reason, and I decided to first head back to Maryland, then set my sights on a policy related career that led me to Virginia. The decade was filled with successes and hard lessons for me.
Looking back politically, the crew at Reason.tv has a great video highlighting the decade as the “Worst Political Decade Ever.” I would have to concur with their analysis slightly from the national standpoint.
However, let’s look at things from the state level. Since I am a relatively new Virginian (been in Virginia for three years), I can only provide a synopsis from 2006-2009. Being from Maryland originally, the best part of the 2000s was the election of Bob Ehrlich and Michael Steele to Governor and Lieutenant Governor respectively.
2006 was an interesting year for a political newbie to discover. It began with George Allen in the lead for U.S. Senate and ended with Macaca, then Jim Webb as our Senator. 2007 was exciting, as we worked hard to elect State Senators and Delegates, in addition to county office holders. Needless to say, it was exhausting, but the hard work paid off for the GOP in the House of Delegates and certain county offices (depending on what county you lived in).
2008 was a blah year in my eyes. Of course, HB 3202 enraged me due to its unconstitutional nature. Del. Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) challenged it in the Virginia Supreme Court, where it was overturned. No more $1000 speeding ticket. From the Federal level, you read on my blog quite a few times, I was not (and still am not) a John McCain fan. After being burned out from 2007, I was not so enthusiastic as I was in years past. Barack Obama won, Gerry Connolly won, and the Democrats took Congress back…only to lead to falling polls.
That’s where 2009 came in. The honeymoon phase faded quickly and both Obama’s polls (along with Congress’ polls) dropped. Public satisfaction with the new administration was at an all-time low and is expected to continue the decline. The tea party movement grew rapidly with people being enraged at the excessive government spending and waste (thanks to Stimulus and Omnibus) and Obama’s health care plan. Rallies were held all across America, including several large ones in Washington, D.C. (including the 4-15 Washington Tea Party and the 9-12 rally). People flooded townhall meetings held by their elected officials (Congressmen and Senators) to demand accountability and responsibility at the federal government level.
2009 was also a referendum on Obama and the Democratic party with Bob McDonnell, Bill Bolling, and Ken Cuccinelli being elected to all three statewide offices in Virginia, and with Chris Christie and Kim Guadagno being elected as Governor and Lieutenant Governor in New Jersey. It was a great year for Republicans in the General Assembly races as well.
Overall, I am glad to see the end of the 2000s and am eager to welcome decade 2010-2019. Who knows what the new decade will bring both politically and personally?
Stimulus Outrage: What will the Government waste our money on next?
What will the Federal Government waste the taxpayers’ money on next? It goes without saying that the government bureaucrats in Washington will find creative ways to utilize the money coming from the Stimulus. After all, the American people thought that the funds would create more jobs and help boost our economy, but unemployment numbers continue to rise (and will continue to rise, especially if the “finalized” health care reform bill is passed). However, the American taxpayer would be livid to know what exactly the stimulus will be boosting…pet projects. Let’s just take a look at the pet projects that will be created under the stimulus. Thanks to Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) for uncovering these projects.
- How does an “Almost Empty” Mall being awarded an energy grant sound? Price tag: $5 Million
- If you’re interested, Digital Television Advertising Agency will create three jobs…but you better apply fast, as they will be gone in a flash. Price tag: $5.9 Million
- If working for a Digital Television Advertising Agency does not float your boat, then how does researching in the development of supersonic corporate jets sound or studying the learning patterns of honeybees sound? Price tag: $4.7 Million for the corporate jets study and $210,000 for studying honeybees
- It looks like the Stimulus will also create a program to control household appliances from a remote location. Awesome, huh? Price tag: $787,250
- How would you like to climb aboard the wine train and get your groove on? Price tag: $54 Million
- Perhaps, while you are on the wine train, your children can watch anti-capitalist, socially-conscious puppet shows. Entertainment with a cause…yeah right Price tag: $100,000
- Do you live in Buffalo? If so, the Stimulus will create a job in your city that involves journaling your malt liquor and marijuana usage. I guess this will help soothe you after the horrible 6-14 record of the Buffalo Bills. Price tag: $389,357
- Lastly, how does a visit from Bobber the Water Safety Dog sound? I hear he is quite the hit at birthday parties. Price tag: $21,116
What other wasteful programs will the government spend the taxpayers’ money on next? I guess we will have to wait to find out.
Government Spending and Global Warming Research
Will the federal government consider its own research on global warming as it prepares to spend more taxpayer funded research dollars? The answer seems like an obvious no, but it would be a good thing for the US Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to consider the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent study on ocean research, especially since the EPA suppressed that particular study.
Last Friday, the Competitive Enterprise Institute filed a public comment requesting that OSTP consider the EPA study (which was suppressed by the EPA). Why should the EPA consider any additional data on climate change before making more policies on the same issue? You would think this would be obvious, but I guess we will have to wait on OSTP’s decision.
You can read more into the comments filed by CEI to OSTP, and read the report that the EPA suppressed.
The Flight to Nowhere
Rep. John Murtha is the King of Earmarks, and he sure brings back government waste (i.e. the bacon). This video shows where some of his bacon goes, and this is in the form of an airport that only serves 20 people a day. Wow, 20 people a day, and the airport is nearby Pittsburgh’s airport. Pat on the back, Jack…NOT! Not only is this a fine example of government waste, but it is the taxpayers that suffer to provide improvements, etc.
H/T to Senate Conservative Fund
Time to hold VDOT accountable
There is a new website, Expose VDOT Waste, where the public can expose wasteful practices with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Senator Mark Obenshain started this website to bring to life the waste and practices within VDOT. This is a great example of transparency at work, even if the Democrats in the General Assembly did not want to conduct an independent audit of the agency. You can also join the group on Facebook.
The recent video I had mentioned in a previous post is the exact example of waste that we need to bring to our elected officials. This nonsense needs to stop, and I am glad that Obenshain wants to bring this waste out for all to see.
**Cross Posted at Virginia News Platoon
Transparency is good for government
If there is one thing that residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia will soon love, this will be the fact that they can watch how the government spends money. In addition, they will be able to monitor virtually every aspect of the state government. Transparency, not only provides accountability, but it provides an insight into which programs receive more money than others, etc. This is simply put, good politics and good government.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch recently discussed how transparency will benefit the government. While we can monitor how the government spends our hard-earned dollars, many of our lawmakers will also be able to see the benefits as well. They can take a glimpse into which programs are receiving more funding than others and know where to make cuts. Even, Del. Sam Nixon (R-Chesterfield) made a good point when he said, “The public has the right to know when people are being paid by other people to represent their interests before the government.”
While there had been some dissension in the past with transparency, this will be beneficial to hold our legislators and government accountable for budget expenditures.
VDOT at Work
Lately, the Virginia Department of Transportation claims that they are hard on their luck. First, they decide to close some rest stops across the Commonwealth, and then, they tell local governments that all road maintenance and snow removal will not be occurring. However, it appears that in spite of their lack of money, the central office at VDOT has decided to focus on producing movies. Yep, Hollywood has come to Richmond. Here’s their latest production on the VDOT YouTube Channel:
Now, one would think they would be scaling back their efforts, since they are broke. No, they are wasting the taxpayer’s money by producing videos, instead of focusing on their work. Why doesn’t VDOT use their time to look at ways to cut unnecessary expenditures to improve the roads across the Commonwealth? Instead, this is just another example of your government at work.
Bailouts and Bull****
On Friday, 20/20 had a compelling series, in conjunction with Reason.tv, that featured the details of the recent bailouts and highlighted the wasteful spending included in this legislation. Both John Stossel and Drew Carey did a fabulous job with this segment.
Here is the first video in the segment that discusses the bailout. Just a note, I will be including the rest of the series throughout the next two days.
What Would You Do…For a Stimulus?
Well, Governor Tim Kaine has decided to show his love for Porkulus Stimulus by putting up a state website soliciting suggestions from Virginians about how the money should be spending the money. You can leave your suggestion here.
Maybe, Kaine can return the money back to the government. It’s a long stretch, but it seems like the only ethical thing to do. Taking this money is stealing from the taxpayers and partaking in government waste. Since Kaine will accept the money, he should use this to address the budget crisis to avert tax hikes, etc.
For what its worth, it would be best for Congress to recognize taxpayers and be more respectful of our money (not squandering it on Pork…who says I don’t care about Pork, Chuck Schumer!). Leave your suggestion on the Stimulus.Virginia.gov site, but Kaine is more likely to spend it on a pet project instead.
Let's Do What's Right…
and say NO to Bailouts! I don’t know about you, but I am tired of my government taxing both my generation and future generations away from fiscal prosperity. It is also wrong to expand the government and spend on wasteful programs.
Ronald Reagan said it best, when he said, “Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves. “
