By Chuck MacNab
Republicans, who are supposed to believe in fiscal responsibility, are in control of the House of Representatives. The House is supposed to control the purse strings! Here is our view regarding fiscal responsibility when it comes to Hurricane Sandy relief and buying votes.
In conversation, most Republicans will readily agree that they should vote against wasteful spending. What politicians in New York and New Jersey (both Republican and Democrat) want Congress to do is to throw gobs of money at anyone who says they have a claim related to Hurricane Sandy. Most of the east coast voted for Obama because he promised he would send BIG money their way if he has any reason, justifiable or not, to do it. November of 2012 made it clear that buying votes by providing and promising "stuff" is the way to win elections (Bill O'Reilly) and that fact will put a lot of politicians who DON'T represent New York and New Jersey on the defensive. They figure, "What will happen if my District suffers a disaster and I need Federal funding." They should resist the impulse to throw money at a problem for this and many other reasons. Unfortunately, they don't... and this is why we are dead broke as a nation and rapidly going broke as individuals!
We wonder if any of you have ever been involved in a bus accident in New York or New Jersey? One that comes to mind is where THREE PEOPLE were on a bus when it struck a utility pole and, as a result came to a sudden stop. By the time the insurance adjusters arrived to interview people involved in the accident, FIFTY PEOPLE were on the bus claiming neck and back injuries!
The recognition of how to take advantage of calamities is common among street people and, in fact, at all levels of society in New York and New Jersey. So, when a disaster like a hurricane develops, the amount of "settlement" that politicians demand for their constituents follows the same principal as the illustration of the bus accident mentioned in the last paragraph!
Nobody looks too closely at claims because, after all, it isn't their money and they certainly wouldn't want to be charged by the media with being "heartless" and not agreeing to help victims in need! In the case of politicians, such an image would not help them in their next election campaign! Certainly there are people who have legitimate claims and some who need help. However, there is no reason (other than politics) why politicians in New York and New Jersey should behave as surrogate "bus accident victims." But they do, especially when, with a little "theatrical outrage," they might be able to tap into a huge chunk of taxpayer money.
Our compliments to John Boehner for resisting pressure to dump money into Hurricane Sandy disaster relief without closely examining the issues. Hopefully, the eighty billion dollar figure being demanded by east coast politicians will be reduced close to the twenty billion that the insurance industry estimates is the loss.
We don't mention the Democrats for obvious reasons but will Republicans in Congress and around the country ever begin to act in a fiscally responsible way? A good opportunity is presented to the House of Representatives by the coming debt ceiling negotiations. That provides a chance to not only examine Hurricane Sandy relief funding but to eliminate some over paid bureaucrats along with their unnecessary and wasteful government agencies. Before the financial roof falls in on all of us, let's hope the House uses its power of the purse to enforce what Republicans used to stand for... fiscal responsibility,
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