Obama to mayors: Hey, never mind. Can’t a man just eat his waffle?

I think not.

There are some good government agencies that are truly role models. Take the DMV. They are pretty darn sharp, at least where I am. So is Social Security.

But these are long-term organizations that have worked out the kinks and actually work. We may complain, but it’s just nonsense, usually.

So, there’s no reason why government cannot work like a clock …
AnninCA on April 23, 2009 at 4:23 PM

I’m not sure if this post was sarcasm or not. In any case if you do want a reason, I would refer you to Friedman’s discussion of the four ways to spend money. These are:

1. Spend your own money on what you want. This is the most efficient way of spending money since you have the motivation to economize, spend what you can afford, and get as much as you can at the most reasonable price (for you.)
2. Spend someone else’s money on what you want. In this case you get more than what you want or need, because someone else is paying the bill. For example if you’re given a $30 stipend for lunch, you’ll more likely to buy that big steak even if you don’t really need it.
3. Spend your own money on someone else. In this case you probably pretty frugal with your money but you may not be successful in your purchases. Go to any department store on the day after Christmas and check out the return lines to see the success of this approach.
4. Spend someone else’s money on someone else. This is the worst of all possible worlds: you have no incentive to economize and you’re less likely to make a wise buying decision.

#4 represents government spending.

Waste, Fraud, Treason, Incompetence and Abuse.
I reckon Perjury is next.

Accountability will require many feet of rope and many tall trees.

Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!

How is fraud any different?

“History teaches us that an outlay of so much money in such a short period of time will inevitably attract those seeking to profit criminally,” Barofsky testified

It seems that Obama is intentionally setting up a situation where he will encourage show trials of “wasteful” political opponents who fall for the bait, while his friends and allies rake in tens/hundreds of millions.

The President has made it clear that every taxpayer dollar spent on our economic recovery must be subject to unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability. He has identified five crucial objectives for Federal agencies, to ensure that:

* Recovery funds are awarded and distributed in a prompt, fair, and reasonable manner;
* The recipients and uses of all recovery funds are transparent to the public, and that the public benefits of these funds are reported clearly, accurately, and in a timely manner;
* Recovery funds are used for authorized purposes and every step is taken to prevent instances of fraud, waste, error, and abuse;
* Projects funded under the recovery legislation avoid unnecessary delays and cost overruns; and,
* Programs meet specific goals and targets, and contribute to improved performance on broad economic indicators.

To meet these objectives, the President is directing Federal agencies to take critical steps in implementing the Act.

Obama slaps his forehead, and falls over backwards.

Audience erupts in laughter, and heavy applause as the curtain falls.