Chump Change

posted at 11:09 am on October 1, 2009 by Track-A-'Crat

Question: what does any responsible person do during an economic contraction?

Please choose one of the following options:

(A) Reduce present spending.

(B) Delay future spending.

(C) Refurbish your home.

For you and I, the answer’s almost certainly A, B or both.

But if you’re Congress, then the correct answer is C, of course!

Why, after all, should the porkers have to suffer simply because the peons are?

Thus has Congress magnanimously decided to approve a legislative appropriations bill, which contains a measure to increase Congress’ annual budget by 5.8 percent to $4.7 billion.

This additional waste of taxpayer monies includes such irresistible highlights as a $500,000 program for senators to send out postcards about their town hall meetings (like anybody doesn’t already know about them), $30,000 for receptions for foreign dignitaries (particularly if they’re from Iran, North Korea, China, Russia or Cuba) and $4 million for consultants (because having more people formulate legislation other than the politicians themselves is exactly what we need).  Politico details the perks here.

Well, what right do we have to deny our overlords anything that they might desire?

We’re only the voters.

Cross-posted at Track-A-’Crat.

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