50 examples of government waste! (interview, attorney, conspiracy, military) - Politics and Other Controversies -Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Conservatives, Liberals, Third Parties, Left-Wing, Right-Wing, Congress, President - City-Data Forum

Yes/no · 10-12-2009, 01:58 AM

"The Pentagon recently spent $998,798 shipping two 19-cent washers from South Carolina to Texas and $293,451 sending an 89-cent washer from South Carolina to Florida."

http://www.opposingviews.com/articles/opinion-get-ready-to-be-outraged-50-examples-of-government-waste-r-1255124281

http://www.americanworker.org/

burdell · 10-12-2009, 03:37 AM

Yet we have those who believe the military/defense should be the only responsibility of the Federal Government, they'll tell you buying an aspirin for an American is SOCIALISM! and a waste of $$$.

saganista · 10-12-2009, 04:04 AM

In other news, there were nearly ten thousand bank robberies in the US last year, as (just as in the case of the washers) upstanding US private citizens broke all manner of laws in an attempt to get something for nothing.

Why does the right-wing have such a "blame the victim" mentality...

ovcatto · 10-12-2009, 05:13 AM

Not that I don't believe that their is waste and fraud in government, it is bound to happen because as Willie Sutton once said about why he robbed banks, "that's were the money is." But like Sutton robbing the bank wasn't the end of the story.

The tale of two washers:

C&D and two of its officials were barred in December from receiving federal contracts. Today, a federal judge in Columbia, South Carolina, accepted the guilty plea of the company and one sister, Charlene Corley, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to launder money, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin McDonald said.

Corley, 46, was fined $750,000. She faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years on each count and will be sentenced soon, McDonald said in a telephone interview from Columbia. Stroot said her sibling died last year.

Pentagon Paid $998,798 to Ship Two 19-Cent Washers (Update3) - Bloomberg.com

pghquest · 10-12-2009, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burdell

Yet we have those who believe the military/defense should be the only responsibility of the Federal Government, they'll tell you buying an aspirin for an American is SOCIALISM! and a waste of $$$.

Incorrect as usual, the military is ONE of the responsibilities of the federal government, while buying an aspirin is not. You should really read the constitution if your going to continue to post.

saganista · 10-12-2009, 05:29 AM

The Constitution is adult material. It should probably be like some R-rated movie where you can't read it until you're old/mature enough to be able to understand the material in an adult context.

Speaking of which...

I can't wait to see that new pirate movie that's coming out next month. I hear it's rated "Arrrrrr!!!!"
-- Rob Dibble

burdell · 10-12-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pghquest

Incorrect as usual, the military is ONE of the responsibilities of the federal government, while buying an aspirin is not. You should really read the constitution if your going to continue to post.

As usual, you look at one side of the coin as if it's the only side. Promoting the general welfare is also ONE of the responsibilities of the Federal government. There may be differences of interpretation but promoting the general welfare can absolutely be taken to mean promoting the health of the population. I know it's difficult for you to see past the blinders but that's your problem, not mine. You should really open your eyes and read the Constitution yourself if you're are going to continue to post. Your blindness to anything past your own nose is quite boring.

irishvanguard · 10-12-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pghquest

Incorrect as usual, the military is ONE of the responsibilities of the federal government, while buying an aspirin is not. You should really read the constitution if your going to continue to post.

Thanks for the setting the constitutionally-ignorant posters straight. General welfare clause to these guys now equals: "my silver needs polishing; I have the cloth, but HHS needs to provide the silver and the polish."

marmac · 10-12-2009, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burdell

As usual, you look at one side of the coin as if it's the only side. Promoting the general welfare is also ONE of the responsibilities of the Federal government. There may be differences of interpretation but promoting the general welfare can absolutely be taken to mean promoting the health of the population. I know it's difficult for you to see past the blinders but that's your problem, not mine. You should really open your eyes and read the Constitution yourself if you're are going to continue to post. Your blindness to anything past your own nose is quite boring.

--"Promoting the general welfare is also ONE of the responsibilities of the Federal government "--

There is a big difference between "promoting" and financing the general welfare of the people !

burdell · 10-12-2009, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irishvanguard

Thanks for the setting the constitutionally-ignorant posters straight. General welfare clause to these guys now equals: "my silver needs polishing; I have the cloth, but HHS needs to provide the silver and the polish."

Actually, to the Constitutionally ignorant, defense means let's invade/occupy other lands that have done NOTHING to the US and pose no threat but it'll keep our industry hoppin'. Millions for nation building, nothing for a healthy population. Damn hypocrites!