- Everything was going along fine with the U.S. Government
Then along comes this maniacal maverick, Ron Paul, upsetting the apple
cart and beguiling us with wispy tales of massive federal bloat and fraud.
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- Who the hell does this guy think he is? Savior of the
Nation?
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- Sure, Ron Paul is a Congressman from Texas, but this
over-zealous watchdog has no right to criticize the Government he serves
for the specious "sins" of waste, fraud, bloat, lack of frugality,
and irresponsibility.
-
- "No corporation on earth," says Paul, "comes
close to the accounting fraud practiced by the federal government. The
official 'accounting' that takes place is a sham."
-
- Such a thing to say, Mr. Paul.
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- True, according to Martin L. Gross, reporter and educator,
the White House has 29 limousines, and 50 chauffeured cars to take bureaucrats
hither and yon. Cost? A paltry $100,000 a year. So aren't you overreacting
just a bit, Mr. Paul?
-
- "The federal government doesn't need to raise money,"
intones Paul, "it simply takes what it wants through taxes, which
can be raised at will. And it never has to operate profitably or efficiently."
-
- Whoa there, Mr. Paul. Yes, the government may own and
operate 1,200 civilian aircraft, worth $2 billion, to fly executives and
their families and guests around the country at a cost of $800 million
a year, but we're a rich country. You can't expect big mucky-mucks to
fly commercial. Please!
-
- "Literally tens of billions of dollars go unaccounted
for each year, disappearing down a bureaucratic black hole," complains
Paul, "and there is no incentive to cut costs. In fact, federal agencies
scramble to spend every last penny of their budgets to justify more the
next year."
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- Oh, Mr. Paul, you're probably referring to the $7 billion
of taxpayers' money that federal agencies spend each year, and then use
up the balance of the money on luxury vacations. Well, even bureaucrats
need some R&R after a while, Mr. Paul. As for luxury resorts, I think
most citizens would feel a sense of pride at rewarding their representatives
with the very best in accommodations.
-
- "None of the free-market restraints against federal
mismanagement apply to government," Mr. Paul grumbles. "There
is no stock price to worry about, nobody tracks government performance,
and nobody ever gets fired. Simply put, the money is not hard-earned,
so it's not well-spent."
-
- How can you say that, Mr. Paul? To make sure we get
value for our tax dollars, the government hires consultants for almost
everything. Yes, the cost is about $5 billion a year, but good consultants,
you know, don't come cheap.
-
- And yes, admittedly the consultants have been accused
of saying that it's nobody's business. So what? We don't have to know
how our government does everything, do we? What is this, Mr. Paul, show-and-tell
week?
-
- "So why is there not more outrage about government
financial accountability?" Mr. Paul asks. "Of course we read
the occasional news article lamenting $400 hammers at the Pentagon, but
for the most part Congress gets a free pass on its own fiscal mismanagement."
-
- I'll admit, Mr. Paul, it seems like the government gets
away with murder but don't say they're being lax about it. They have 4,000
federally employed, public relations specialists presenting the government
in the best light possible to the media. At a salary of 85,000 per, that's
a measly $340 million a year. Sure, they never talk about the government's
deficiencies, but after all, Mr. Paul, that's what PR does. And you'll
have to admit, they're doing a great job.
-
- "The only thing we know," states Mr. Paul,
"is that the federal budget will go up next year."
-
- And so will bread and gasoline and computers and bathing
suits. But don't blame the government. They're doing everything in their
power to keep costs down.
-
- You being in Congress, Mr. Paul, I can't believe someone
that close to the money doesn't see that.
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- "Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication
allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact."
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- ___
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- Jim Moore is a free-lance political writer and is a regular
columnist for Ether Zone. Jim Moore can be reached at Jmoore1819@aol.com
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- A list of works by Jim Moore can be seen at the American
Reformation Project website http://www.americanreformation.org/articles/JimMoore/JimMoore.htm
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- Published in the July 26, 2002 issue of Ether Zone. http://www.etherzone.com/2002/moor072602.shtml
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