Harkin’s stinky pork
March 7, 2009 – 8:21 amSenator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) defended his earmark for “Pig odor research” the other day. This isn’t just another smash at Harkin or laugh at such research. It is a great way to show how much opposition to Congressional budget items, including earmark, in the media and punditry is misguided.
Folks object, in truth or in false statement, to how much the Federal Behemoth spends. President Obamessiah promised to go “line by line to eliminate ineffective programs” as one example. Shill Hammity rails incessantly about the silly spending while continually missing the real point.
The test isn’t the goofiness of the spending nor the effectiveness of a program. The test is Constitutional, which each and every congress-critter swears to defend and uphold. Most (nearly all?) Federal appropriations are for things that the Federal government is NOT EMPOWERED by the U.S. Constitution to do or be involved in. From the big hitters such as bailouts, healthcare and education to the small things like swamp bridges and pig manure smell reduction research. None of these are enumerated in the Constitution for the Federal Government to spend money on, have “programs” for or in any way be involved in.
Senator Harkin is correct. In many parts of rural American the smell of manure is an issue to the the peoples there. Where he is wrong is thinking that the Federal government is in any way supposed to do anything or spend ANY taxpayer money on it.
Think about this. Then tell us how you would justify most things in a modern federal budget. Constitutionally now, not because it feels right to you.
One Response to “Harkin’s stinky pork”
I would Miss that “Good ol’ Country smell”
By gerry on Mar 8, 2009