NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.reuters.com/financeNewsArticle.jhtml?type=bondsNews&storyID=6160062
Congress has a lot to do before the November elections, and as always, it is rife with political hackling and fighting, not to mention the lobbyists that Congress can never get rid of.

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Well, it is Congress. What did you expect, work?

Well, it is Congress. What did you expect, work?
I just find it interesting on what they work on.

a bit off subject - did anyone see the debate between the libertarian and green party candidates today on c-span? I forgot all about it.

a bit off subject - did anyone see the debate between the libertarian and green party candidates today on c-span? I forgot all about it.
What, with all 15 people in the audience?[/cheapshot]
Back on topic, I really hope that the Assault Weapons Ban gets renewed...

What, with all 15 people in the audience?[/cheapshot]
Back on topic, I really hope that the Assault Weapons Ban gets renewed...
I want it to be reformed to just certain assault weapons, like M-16s. For one, we can make anything illegal, it just means it'll show up on the back streets somewhere. For another, the majority of gun users are responsible. But finally, I believe that the assault weapons ban in its current state violates the Second Amendment by allowing the government to have far superior arms than the state. That's why I like the 2nd amendment, as it is democracy's insurance policy. The assault weapon's ban doesn't allow it to work.
Besides, as I've said, I don't expect gun crimes to go up because of this, but rather to go down. It'll encourage some to buy assault weapons for defence. In fact, in 1900, there were only 52 murders out of about 70 million people in the US, as most everyone had a gun. It was as common then as a car is today.

Now, one of the things that really irks me is the highway bill. Every time I go on an interstate, I see road repair all the time. I know the federal government has an obligation to repair the highways, as they are filled with potholes every spring. But does it take $400+ billion to do? I'm convinced that this peice of legislation is filled with special interests handouts. The actual figure is probably far less than that.

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Now, one of the things that really irks me is the highway bill. Every time I go on an interstate, I see road repair all the time. I know the federal government has an obligation to repair the highways, as they are filled with potholes every spring. But does it take $400+ billion to do? I'm convinced that this peice of legislation is filled with special interests handouts. The actual figure is probably far less than that.

Pork?

Like:
- $1.5 million for High Knob horse trails in Virginia.
- $1 million to improve an I-8 offramp to the Desert Farming Institute in Imperial County. This is the District of Rep. Filner (D-CA), who sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
-$1.5 million for the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI
-$593,175 for a sidewalk revitalization project in Eastman, GA
-$1 million for "citywide pavement rehabilitation in City of North Pole"
-$5 million for a Parking Garage in Bozeman, MT. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT),
who represents Bozeman sits on the committee that wrote the bill.
- $3.2 million for a pedestrian walkway at Coney Island
- $4 million for transit improvements at Eastlake Stadium, a stadium for a minor league baseball team.
- $10 million to construct a new interchange on I-85 between the Greenville Spartanburg Airport and SC Highway 101 interchanges. This is at the request of BMW, who has a facility at that Interchange
-$5 million for Home Furnishing Market for Terminals and Parking in High Point, NC.
-$6 million for Highway Reforestation in Houston, TX

That sort of pork?

YEah - this bill is full of it again.

BTW - if you like to get disgusted at how your money is pissed away:

http://www.taxpayer.net/new.htm

Is a good place to start.

Pork?

Like:
- $1.5 million for High Knob horse trails in Virginia.
- $1 million to improve an I-8 offramp to the Desert Farming Institute in Imperial County. This is the District of Rep. Filner (D-CA), who sits on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
-$1.5 million for the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI
-$593,175 for a sidewalk revitalization project in Eastman, GA
-$1 million for "citywide pavement rehabilitation in City of North Pole"
-$5 million for a Parking Garage in Bozeman, MT. Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT),
who represents Bozeman sits on the committee that wrote the bill.
- $3.2 million for a pedestrian walkway at Coney Island
- $4 million for transit improvements at Eastlake Stadium, a stadium for a minor league baseball team.
- $10 million to construct a new interchange on I-85 between the Greenville Spartanburg Airport and SC Highway 101 interchanges. This is at the request of BMW, who has a facility at that Interchange
-$5 million for Home Furnishing Market for Terminals and Parking in High Point, NC.
-$6 million for Highway Reforestation in Houston, TX

That sort of pork?

YEah - this bill is full of it again.
It always is. I read a book by Fareed Zakaria on how the government got this way. He claims it's because of public committee meetings, which only lobbyists have cared to attend. They use what was discussed at those meetings as amunition, then coerce and bribe any Congressman they need to. For many Congressmen, it's probably hard to do what you think is right when all these lobbyists are breathing down your necks.

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