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- iHaveNet.com: Politics
by Cal Thomas
Most of us have had the experience of viewing an item in a store and thinking, "I don't need another one of those. I already have one at home."
That is not how the federal government thinks. Its refusal to do so is why our deficit and debt are at record levels. If real people behaved like the government, they'd be broke too.
As
The nonpartisan
The March 2011 GAO report defines waste. On his blog, Federal Eye, The
"Reducing or eliminating duplication, overlap, or fragmentation could potentially save billions of taxpayer dollars annually and help agencies provide more efficient and effective services," writes O'Keefe. Potentially? As Homer Simpson might say, "Doh!"
Government suffers from a Charlie Sheen addiction. Unlike the actor, who has conducted several outrageous interviews in recent days, the preferred drug of choice for government is not cocaine, but other people's money.
Examples of duplication and waste are legion. "The GAO highlighted 80 different economic development programs at the
This is beyond ridiculous, except it is regular fare when you are a member of a congressional appropriations committee. In Washington, spending has become a matter of degree, which is why especially the new House freshmen will have a difficult time getting the government to go on the spending wagon.
How can any politician defend, excuse, or explain such behavior?
The title of the GAO report is understated: "Opportunities to Reduce Potential Duplication in Government Programs, Save Tax Dollars, and Enhance Revenue."
Opportunities? The report certainly offers them, but will
This GAO Report (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11318sp.pdf) should be carried to the House and
There have been other reports, panels and commissions that have recommended spending cuts (the
Spending twice on the same thing ought to offend every member of
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