Sunday, August 9, 2009

A Penny Saved Is A Penny Spent; and, Spent; and, Spent, Again!

Last April, Barack Obama challenged his cabinet to "cut" $100 million from Federal spending (Click to See The Story). Forget about the fact that a $100 million is so small that, in terms of the overall spending in Washington, it is probably "smaller" than any rounding errors when adding up the budget for the next Space Shuttle launch. But, undaunted, Obama's cabinet rose to the challenge and actually found $102 million in savings. So happy with the results, Obama challenged them, again, to find another $100 million (Click to See the Video). The savings was achieved by recommending things like two-side printing (Click to See That Video). I really thought that the savings by switching to commercial-grade aviation fuel instead of extremely expensive, mil-spec jet fuel was particularly interesting. The switch will actually save about $50 million a year. Of course, the next time one of those 1/2 billion dollar military jets falls to earth because of crap fuel; they just might want to rethink that one! Penny wise but, pound foolish?

Anyway, now that Obama has saved $102 million, it is only "logical" that our Congress blow that money on themselves. In fact, they just couldn't blow that savings by the puny $102 million. Instead, they decided to blow it by five times that amount. That's why our Pelosi/Reid Congress thought it would be "nice" to have 8 new business jets to shuttle Congress around for the insignificant price tag of $550 million (Click to See Full Story).

While some taxpayers might be angry over this excess spending, I think is shows that our Congress has faith that Obama will eventually save that $550 million; and, just maybe, even more! Like Obama says in that video (above): "$100 million there... $100 million here...and, pretty soon... even in Washington...it adds up to real money." The "real money" comment was truly inspiring. I really never knew that $100 million wasn't "real money". Stupid me! I guess if I didn't know that $100 million wasn't "real money" then, apparently, I'm also too stupid to understand that a $1.8 trillion deficit is no big thing, either!

Those on the left, like that thrill-up-his-leg-over-Obama Chris Matthews, must have gotten over their whole outrage over luxury private jets because they haven't said a peep about Congress' new purchases. Just a few months ago they were totally outraged by the fact that auto company execs flew into Washington on private jets to ask for bailout money (Click to See the Video where Chris Matthews Delight When Those Execs Were Admonished by the Democrats in Congress). The horror of it. Having luxury private jets when taking taxpayer money! What were these auto-CEOs thinking? I, for one, am happy that those ingrates were raked over the coals for their complete insensitivity to the taxpayer. Thank God that our Congress is always watching out for us!

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