The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Randomizing -

Earmarks. I don't get it. What exactly is the alternate suggestion to earmarks? What does getting rid of earmarks in a spending bill accomplish? Because as far as I can tell, all it does is delay the exact same process and deal making. The money has to be spent. It has to be spent on something. Someone has to decide what it gets spent on. Without earmarks, it's not like they're just going to throw money on the sidwalk in front of Congress, first come first served. Eventually, a decision is going to be made about what to spend the money on. Who gives a sh*t if that decision is made when the bill is written and passed, or after that? It's the exact same thing. What am I missing?

[JWBear]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Randomizing -

Earmarks. I don't get it. What exactly is the alternate suggestion to earmarks? What does getting rid of earmarks in a spending bill accomplish? Because as far as I can tell, all it does is delay the exact same process and deal making. The money has to be spent. It has to be spent on something. Someone has to decide what it gets spent on. Without earmarks, it's not like they're just going to throw money on the sidwalk in front of Congress, first come first served. Eventually, a decision is going to be made about what to spend the money on. Who gives a sh*t if that decision is made when the bill is written and passed, or after that? It's the exact same thing. What am I missing?

Beacuse spending a few million for a badly needed road, or to build a dam to prevent a rural town from being flooded, or building a community center are bad things; but giving billions to banks and Wall Street firms so that they can buy $50 million dollar jets, or give their executives millions in bonuses is good.

Didn't you get the memo?