Blog @ MoreWhat.com

Transparency and accountability have been a focus in the long battle to defeat liberal control of healthcare in the United States. While the antiseptic qualities apply, described in the phrase, sunshine is the best disinfectant, public demand to review healthcare reform legislation and have input is key. President Obama’s release of his budget proposal for 2011 which begins in October requires the same scrutiny and public focus.

Are you kidding me? A three point eight trillion dollar budget ($3.8 trillion) is not what the doctor ordered. Just as the Democratic party and their agenda is on life support so is the US economy. Given that the vast majority of federal budgets are entitlements and discretionary spending this budget number is preposterous. Like the stark reality being experienced by the unemployed and under-employed the White House and Congress need a wake up call.

The plan includes big increases in personal and business taxes, modest spending cuts and increased outlays for education, defense and jobs initiatives.

First of all, tax increases are nonsense in this economy. Second, modest spending cuts are equally ignorant. As for education, sure, it is important. But the simple fact that everyone will have to suffer includes education. So your college plans are postponed for a year or two. Join the Peace Corps or something. And why do we think education can only be improved by spending money. That hasn’t improved student or teacher performance yet.

Cutting more entitlements would certainly help paying for any defense needs. And who the hell needs a jobs bill now that needs to be paid for over ten years? $80 to $100 billion over ten years for government make work jobs? That’s ridiculous.

And enough with the future timelines for reducing spending, deficits and the national debt. Do it now. Right now, in this budget in this year turn the corner and halt the damage being done by government malfeasance. As an ending note to this post Lamar Alexander put it best in describing current politics in Washington.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R., Tenn.), appearing on the same program, praised Mr. Obama for talking about spending and tax cuts, but said his ideas were flawed. “I’ll give the president some credit,” he said. “He’s in the right church but the wrong pew.”

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

BTW, following links to the WSJ articles is worth the trip.  And so is the following link.

Debt deluge: Here comes the $1.6 trillion flood of red ink (Michelle Malkin) 

The land of fruits and nuts is a well-deserved moniker for the state of Schwarzenegger. Some call it America’s failed state. And now California’s First Lady is taking some heat off her husband by operating while under the influence of a cellphone. Will Arnold terminate her? Is Maria Shrivering? A report suggests this is the third time she has offended.

The only reason for this post is to point out stupid things in politics. Certainly the Shriver story fits. A report about other stupid things related to this story features a list of ‘idiotic laws’ recently signed by the Governator.

Here’s an excerpt……

The non-haha part of the story, aside from how it provides yet another example that nuisance laws are made to be followed primarily by people who look like criminals, is that Schwarzenegger this week, in the midst of his state’s ongoing financial free-fall, signed still another round of largely idiotic laws. A surface-scratching list: [follow the link for the list]

Let’s not forget to add the cellphone laws. Sure, we have to do something. Too many idiots are jeopardizing safety by texting or other use of wireless devices while driving. The problem is you cannot make life idiot-proof by passing laws to control idiots. You only look like an idiot for doing so.

From childbirth, assuming the new human has not been aborted, parents have a set of responsibilities regarding the child. Not the least of which is teaching it how to behave and act in a manner compatible with intelligent living. It is obvious and there are many examples of how this process has been a failure. Based on all the idiot laws on the books it would be reasonable to suggest failures in raising children require we outlaw having sex.

Don’t laugh. It could happen.

Stanford Matthews
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From the Politico on Sept 25, 2009 the Senator from Wisconsin, Russ Feingold (D-WI) of McCain/Feingold fame is weighing in on unelected members of the US Senate and what should be done about it. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has also weighed in.

When Paul Kirk is sworn in Friday, he’ll become the sixth unelected member of the current Senate.

And by Russ Feingold’s math, that’s about six too many.

“People shouldn’t be voting in the United States Senate unless they’ve been elected by the people,” Feingold — a Democrat elected three times by the people of Wisconsin — said Thursday as Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick named Kirk as a temporary replacement for the late Ted Kennedy.

Feingold wants to amend the Constitution so that all Senate vacancies are filled by special elections rather than by gubernatorial appointments. But until that happens, the 17th Amendment allows states to let their governors appoint replacements — and that means that Roland Burris (D-Ill.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Ted Kaufman (D-Del.), George LeMieux (R-Fla.) and, soon, Paul Kirk will be representing constituents who never had a chance to vote for or against them.

Another example of the public being shut out of the process that requires a look at the 17th Amendment and beyond.

Note: Article I, section 3, of the Constitution was modified by the 17th amendment.

The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote. The electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State legislatures.

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any Senator chosen before it becomes valid as part of the Constitution.

A few more notes on the amendment…..

Amendment [XVII.] 9

There are those who favor the 17th Amendment and those who would like it to be repealed. Feel free to make your case either way.

Stanford Matthews
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Prepared remarks of President Obama - Back to School Event Sept 9, 2009

(If either file disappears, video or text, use the contact link on this blog to request files)

Stanford Matthews
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The Obama White House characterized criticism of the President’s planned speech to America’s school children as ’silly season’. The MSM seems to agree based on most coverage yet no such reaction existed for the 24/7 MSM coverage of the search for the Obama dog. Likewise it is at least humorous that the White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs would refer to anything as ’silly’ given his performance to date. And no review of this topic would be complete without the opposition party response during the Bush Administration. In 1991, then-President George H.W. Bush, a Republican, addressed students live on television, with Democrats at the time complaining the speech was costly political advertising at the expense of taxpayers.

So just how silly is the concern that a speech by a sitting US President to the nation’s school children is problematic?
School districts in at least six states say they will not show the speech in classrooms after objections from some administrators and parents.
The speech sparked criticism after U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan sent a letter to school principals urging them to allow their students to watch. The Department of Education also had material that included a suggestion that students write themselves a note on how they can “help the president.”

The Department of Education has since updated the material to instead ask students to write a note about how they can achieve their long-term and short-term education goals.

Is there a chance that after criticism surfaced about the speech not only did the Dept of Education change their stance but the President’s speech may also have been rewritten once the strategy cat was let out of the bag? C’mon, not like this is as innocent as JFK’s promotion of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness. Which, by the way, would not be a bad choice for a rerun given the torturous frequency of reminders we’re all obese. You can almost hear the President suggesting the silly season response to Gibbs as he simultaneously directs speech writer’s to make a change.

Conspiracy theories on the speech are not in short supply. But how over the top is it to suggest that a President who is in campaign mode by default would work the crowd in the nation’s schools to his political advantage? Given the fact that his campaign strategy is about all that has worked thus far it is not a surprise that he would use the only weapon he has….. talking. And next up would be the same strategy applied to a joint session of the House and Senate. One could argue the former audience is superior to the latter although the academic achievements of either are not stellar.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Why should D.C. schoolkids listen to Obama? (Michelle Malkin) 

No one wants to air their dirty laundry in public. But that doesn’t stop it from happening. It seems that when most countries are the subject of criticism about their history those raising the issue are not from the target country. Currently some in the UK are defending their brand of healthcare against criticism from those debating a similar issue in the US. Iran and North Korea are getting criticized by just about every other country for their pursuit of nukes and their subsequent denials or lame justifications for it. And the US gets criticized for just about anything and everything. A likely downside to being on top of the pile. And Russia is not exempt from criticism either.

Sunday, August 23, marks the 70th anniversary of the so-called Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact - the non-aggression treaty signed in 1939 by Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov and German Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop. The pact included a secret protocol dividing Eastern and Central Europe into Nazi and Soviet spheres of influence. Days after it was signed, first German and then Soviet forces invaded Poland.

This kind of discussion will ruffle the Bear’s fur. Drawing comparisons between Stalin and Hitler will not go unnoticed in Russia. …’ in May, President Dmitri Medvedev issued a decree setting up a presidential commission to counter what he called attempts to “falsify history.” ‘ And then there is mention of something that seems akin to Russia’s Soviet legacy. ‘ Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu introduced legislation in parliament that would make it a crime to deny the Soviet victory in World War II.’ The criticism is having the expected reaction in the Kremlin and elsewhere.

So what else are the critics saying? Dmitry Furman of the Russian Academy of Science’s Institute of Europe calls the presidential commission to counter what it deems historical falsification an “idiotic undertaking” and a “very bad idea.” He also says Stalin’s government killed as many, or even more people than Hitler’s.

But, given the suffering Russians endured after Hitler turned on Stalin and invaded the Soviet Union, Furman says it is natural that many resist equating Stalinism and Nazism.

Furman says it is “very difficult psychologically” for Russians to put what they see as their “victors” in the Great Patriotic War, as they call World War II, on the same level with the vanquished Nazis.

This might be a case of forgetting to note that Stalin was not representative of the Russian people. It may be difficult indeed for Russia to come to grips with the legacy of a madman.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Here’s another good reading list but there’s no good ONE.  They’re all good.

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/07/friend-or-foil

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/07/acorns-labor-pains

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/07/us-versus-them

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/06/rhinocare-rinos-a-us-chamber-o

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/06/serfs-up

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/06/demolition-derby

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/05/the-great-socialist-takeover

http://spectator.org/archives/2009/08/05/asterisks

American Thinker: Two Hundred Days of Hope and Change

American Thinker: Doing the Obama Hustle

American Thinker: The Real Climate Agenda

American Thinker: The Decline in July Unemployment…

American Thinker: Obama the Polarizer

American Thinker: Obama’s Black Panther Scandal

American Thinker: WH Declares an End to the War on Terror

American Thinker: NYT Averts Its Eyes on Mary Robinson

As long as Americans are once again shifting to the right this blog might as well assist the public with conservative reading lists.  The American Spectator and American Thinker are two fine places to spend some time reading.  But that’s just the opinion on this know-nothing blog.  See, this blog is so cool it even comes supplied with its own liberal insult so as not to unfairly challenge weak minds.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

It is not uncommon these days to hear people quip it is time for a revolution. This frequent reaction during casual conversations about the state of the nation is presented with overtones of humor as most would agree that thoughts of revolution do not conjure images of reasonable solutions. While participants in such social intercourse may strain from the the effects of the current plague of political and economic dysfunction their desire is more a longing for a renaissance than a revolution.

OMG, another ‘French’ word enters. The Renaissance (French for “rebirth”; Italian: Rinascimento, from re- “again” and nascere “be born”)[1] was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Florence in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. Well that settles it. Rinascimento is more appealing. Besides, when you think of the French and ideas like revolution eating cake and off with their heads comes to mind. And there’s way too much of that going on these days. So, Rinascimento it is.

Hope and change was the sole product and latest offering from campaigns feeding on the stagnant realm of politics in America. The only result thus far that can be stated with any certainty is hope is disappearing and the only change has been the majority and minority status of the two dominant political parties in Washington DC. And the fourth estate, aka the mainstream media or MSM, unintentionally bears this out with the recurring theme of POLS ‘defending’ their respective positions on issues and lackluster actions to solve them. Even the MSM’s unqualified support of the liberal agenda has waned since the 2008 Presidential campaign that featured a continuous stream of fawning and adulation over then candidate Barack Obama. It appears even the media has limitations on how silly they are willing to look in the face of mounting evidence they have been duped.

We probably do not need a Rinascimento identical to that of centuries ago. And we certainly do not need a revolution that bears any resemblance to those documented historically as major events in world history. Whether a Rinascimento, a rebirth or a new beginning we may simply need enough people to share in an epiphany of sorts to get the ball rolling. Not to borrow the term ‘epiphany’ in its religious connotation rather ‘the sudden realization or comprehension of the (larger) essence or meaning of something.’

What are some of the concepts dealing with discussions of the Rinascimento relevant to our current needs? As a cultural movement, it encompassed a resurgence of learning based on classical sources, the development of linear perspective in painting, and gradual but widespread educational reform. Traditionally, this intellectual transformation has resulted in the Renaissance being viewed as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the Modern era. Although the Renaissance saw revolutions in many intellectual pursuits, as well as social and political upheaval, it is perhaps best known for its artistic developments and the contributions of such polymaths as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, who inspired the term “Renaissance man”.

We have the ’social and political upheaval’. Some may even suggest we the gradual if not widespread educational reform. But the only evidence of ‘a resurgence of learning based on classical sources’ comes from the conservatives among us. If it is true that the Rinascimento was a bridge between the Dark Ages and the so-called Modern era it could be that conservatives are the Renaissance Man of the next rebirth to a new age of prosperity and enlightenment. Not to exaggerate the significance of conservative thought in America with a comparison to Renaissance Man but it appears the best hope for our nation given the current situation and other historic periods in history where extreme shifts allowed tyrants and their allies to prevail.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Reviewing a recording in a collection of videos assembled over many years is partly what inspired this post. That and the belief that we need to examine the human condition periodically even with all the attention to current events, politics and public affairs. The attraction of ‘culture’ as an addenda to content of many internet sites featuring news and/or analysis largely focus on celebrity, pop culture, gossip, fads and dysfunction. It seems more meaningful to explore people, places and things from the past which may provide a positive guide for the future.

The initial inspiration above relates to a video produced near the century mark of the notable accomplishments of two men from Ohio in the bicycle business which made Kitty Hawk a famous location in the world of aviation. One could say they launched the world of aviation. Although the topic is not without debate.

The story mixes nicely with a recent news story on the failure of the remarkable aircraft known as the Raptor. The F-22 has fallen on hard times and may have blemished the equally remarkable legacy and former home of Clarence ‘Kelly’ Johnson and the Skunkworks of Lockheed, now and for some time, Lockheed Martin. Johnson and the Skunkworks were responsible for such masterpieces as the U2 spyplane and this blog’s favorite, the SR=71 Blackbird.

Much about the history of aviation are the truly amazing developments that occurred over the last century. And the pursuit of such things is virtually littered with accounts of those who tried but failed to achieve what others have since or records of latent genius and intuitive journeys which never advanced from that point.

One such intuitive journey is demonstrated in the visual works of Leonardo Da Vinci. The obvious study and attention to detail in evidence in a drawing assists in documenting the time that can pass from concept to creation.

Perhaps Da Vinci is an example of a fertile mind and ample talent overloaded by the sheer quantity of interests occupying his time. You could use this item to counter the kids next time they say they’re bored and there’s nothing to do. (Just had to say that.)

His notes and drawings display an enormous range of interests and preoccupations, some as mundane as lists of groceries and people who owed him money and some as intriguing as designs for wings and shoes for walking on water. There are compositions for paintings, studies of details and drapery, studies of faces and emotions, of animals, babies, dissections, plant studies, rock formations, whirl pools, war machines, helicopters and architecture

Who are the Da Vinci’s of today and what are they achieving? They certainly cannot be found in healthcare reform or other legislative agendas.

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (it-Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci.ogg pronunciation (help·info), April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian polymath, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer.

Now there’s a resume’.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Read a book. It’s possible this blog has never recommended reading a particular book other than Mark Levin’s Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto. But a recent visit to tsowell.com served up a reminder of a wise choice from many of Thomas Sowell’s suggested reading list. It is not new or the latest bestseller but that is certainly not a reason to discount it. In these times of social and political unrest not to mention terrorism and Jihad the book by Bernard Lewis entitled ‘ What Went Wrong’ is not only relevant but extremely well written and compelling. If you do not care to take this blog’s word for it, being on Sowell’s reading list should suffice.

Like any treatment of the topic discussed by Lewis it is not without its detractors. In the interest of fairness one search engine result that provides the dissenting viewpoint is linked here so you can have one recommendation accompanied by one random review by someone not impressed with the work or the author. It would not be surprising if this dissenting viewpoint is held by someone not fond of criticism toward someone or something they personally value, right or wrong.

A description of the book from Sowell’s site is presented here and hopefully Mr Sowell will not object.

A small book presenting a top scholar’s very readable account of the history that led the Islamic world from its pinnacles of achievement in the past to its present pathology and poisonous and dangerous hatreds.

How about a guess? Terrorists, Jihadis, Muslims and Islam will be offended. The rest of us will not. Give it a read and make up your own mind. Hopefully you have already accepted the earlier recommendation on Levin’s book and read that by now. It would not hurt to follow the link to Sowell’s lists, etc., to find other good reading material.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

Is America fat? Are you fat? How many members of your family are fat? How many of your friends are fat?

The report below is published in a ‘journal’ named Health Affairs. Some non-profit named the Research Triangle Institute and the Center for Disease Control produced a ’study’. If you can look in the mirror and have responded to the questions above in a manner indicating most of the people you know are fat why do we need a study to tell us what we should already know?

Is there any valid reason for being fat? If this report and others like it are true, what does it say about a country with so many fat people. And who really believes that some people cannot help being fat?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

New research shows that obesity and the cost of treating obesity-related illnesses in the United States rose dramatically between 1998 and 2006.

The study was published Monday in the journal Health Affairs. It said obesity-related health spending was estimated at $147 billion a year in 2006, roughly double the $74 billion estimated just eight years earlier.

Researchers from a nonprofit group, the Research Triangle Institute, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in their study that obesity-related health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease, now account for 9.1 percent of all medical spending. That’s up from 6.5 percent in 1998.

The report says obesity itself rose 37 percent in that time, and nearly a third of Americans are now considered to be obese.

The CDC says the United States must bring down its obesity rates to reduce health care costs. It recommends that communities fight obesity by promoting healthy eating and physical activity.

The study also was released at the Weight of the Nation CDC conference in Washington on health and obesity.

Couch Potatoes Don’t Watch Obama

More than 70 percent of votes in a TVGuide.com poll are from people who say they would rather watch their regular shows in prime time than watch President Barack Obama.

Like this is a suprise.

And we wonder why the state of the nation is troubling and why elections turn out the way they do. If the couch potato is a large enough component of the US population it may explain why we have so many public issues to resolve. Would a couch potato be concerned about healthcare? Would a couch potato care if we were headed toward socialism? If you remember the civics literacy test results couch potatoism may be responsible for the miserable results.

Stanford Matthews
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Sen. Chuck Hagel Joins Faculty
Former U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) will join the Walsh School of Foreign Service (SFS) faculty this semester as Distinguished Professor in the Practice of National Governance.

Hagel will teach undergraduate and graduate student courses in U.S. foreign policy in the fall.

“Senator Hagel brings great expertise on important foreign and domestic issues facing our nation,” said Georgetown President John J. DeGioia. “He is a great addition to our community of distinguished scholars, and I look forward to his contributions to Georgetown.”

In addition to his teaching commitments, Hagel also will conduct seminars and other educational activities for SFS students and the broader university community.

“I am honored to become part of this respected institution and look forward to contributing to the important efforts that Georgetown continues to make in educating our next generation of leaders,” said Hagel.

First elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, Hagel served two consecutive terms. He also served as chair of both the Senate Global Climate Change Observer Group and the Senate Oversight Task Force and as co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China. Hagel has been a member of four Senate committees — the Committee on Foreign Relations; the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; the Select Committee on Intelligence; and the Committee on Rules and Administration.

“I am pleased to welcome Senator Hagel to the School of Foreign Service and know he will offer valuable insight and understanding on critical issues in foreign policy and on the policymaking process,” said SFS Dean Robert L. Gallucci.

Hagel has authored “America: Our Next Chapter: Tough Questions, Straight Answers” (Ecco 2008), in which he explores domestic issues — including the health care crisis, immigration and Social Security and Medicare reform. He also examines foreign policy problems, including China’s growing economy, India and Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities, and Iran’s aggressive political, ideological and nuclear stances.

Source: Blue & Gray (February 5, 2009)

If you want to know what happens to has been POLS after they leave the government, here’s an example. And no report was found of Hagel also working as a lobbyist but that would be no suprise.

Is Hagel being a ‘distinguished professor’ at Georgetown have any relationship to actually having credentials to teach or is this just a perk of being a former short term senator?

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com

The only good news to be found lately comes from a not so unlikely place. Or more correctly, the news is from a not so unlikely person. Meredith Whitney, if you don’t know, is quite the interesting woman. Not only does she have an impressive resume’ of sorts but her significant other and her take on most things are extraordinary. Many unique combinations feature in this person’s life not the least of which is her reputation for being right.

She came up on the radar here from past accounts of her ability to predict things financial. While her focus in finance may be narrow her insight may be more than that. Now that she is above stealth mode to others besides her competitors, rivals or envious counterparts a question remains. Is she a flash in the pan or the real deal?

Just a little financial news to help you get going this week. Don’t look for bright spots in the economy or world of money beyond Whitney’s take below.

Stanford Matthews
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Whitney Gives Goldman Sachs Stock Her Only ‘Buy’ Recommendation

By Josh Fineman and Ambereen Choudhury
July 13 (Bloomberg) — Meredith Whitney gave Goldman Sachs Group Inc. her only “buy” recommendation among the eight banks she covers, saying the shares may climb 30 percent.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has a press release, presented below, that expresses concern related to the so-called Recovery Act or stimulus or porkulus bill and GAO reports indicating earlier skepticism by opponents of the plan may be justified.

The GAO reports that 16 states and DC account for about 65% of the US population as well as an equal % of the ’stimulus’ funding under their scrutiny in this second report. Links to the information are provided below. This blog’s summary is short and sweet.

Three areas of government spending are covered. Medicaid, DOT highway infrastructure and education programs are the target of these billions of taxpayer dollars. With the possible exception of DOT projects the other two areas will not likely result in new jobs. Education funding is simply being used to ‘retain staff’ and ‘continue programs’.

And GAO is concerned that transparency and accountability measures will not meet the stated goals of ‘following the money’. They offer numerous recommendations dealing with the need for more accountability.

The view from this blog has not changed. Billions in ‘recovery’ funds provided by the taxpayer will be used as expected to fund government programs. What’s new? It is unlikely many jobs will be created but saving jobs of those protected by the Obama administration will occur. You are paying for their continued support of the current administration. For all of you being layed off in the private sector the recovery act will do nothing for you to this point. Elections have consequences.

Here’s an excerpt from the GAO reports that may whet your appetite for more information.

Accountability States have implemented various internal control programs; however, federal Single Audit guidance and reporting does not fully address Recovery Act risk. The Single Audit reporting deadline is too late to provide audit results in time for the audited entity to take action on deficiencies noted in Recovery Act programs. Moreover, current guidance does not achieve the level of accountability needed to effectively respond to Recovery Act risks. Finally, state auditors need additional flexibility and funding to undertake the added Single Audit responsibilities under the Recovery Act.

Here is the link for GAO on the Recovery Act….

http://www.gao.gov/recovery/bimonthly/index.php

Here is McConnell’s press release….

GAO Report Validates Stimulus Concerns

from the Office of Senator Mitch McConnell

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

‘Americans should be skeptical anytime someone in Washington downplays scrutiny and overplays speed’

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Wednesday regarding the GAO report on the stimulus bill and the lack of transparency and accountability:

“This week’s GAO report on the administration’s Economic Stimulus plan validates the serious concerns that many of us repeatedly expressed prior to its passage. This trillion-dollar spending plan was neither timely, targeted, nor temporary, and funds were extremely difficult to track. This is precisely the result that concerned us when advocates short-changed the debate and overpromised on results, including assurances that unemployment, now approaching 10%, wouldn’t rise above 8 percent.

“According to the report, assurances on transparency were off base, as was the promise that we’d be able to accurately track jobs. The GAO report should add to growing public concerns about the Administration’s tendency to rush and to overpromise on results when it comes to spending taxpayer dollars and increasing the national debt. But it shouldn’t surprise anyone who followed the debate.

“Americans should be skeptical anytime someone in Washington downplays scrutiny and overplays speed. They have even more reason to be skeptical now.”

###

If you are or were concerned about government spending and specifically the bailouts and porkulus scams you have reason to be.

Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com