Government Fiasco

Chris Christie came on the scene slamming, but has been going downhill ever since, he probably hasn't hit bottom yet but he's way too low for me. He's just another New Jersey, push your weight around, mob-style boss.

The Sandy Sham

Between NY Rep. Peter King and now New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Republicans in Congress, and particularly House Speaker John Boehner, have endured a bludgeoning. Over what? Over their failure to consider this Sandy-sham bill. Christie said that there is only one group to blame: The House Majority and John Boehner. He says, “It was disappointing and disgusting to watch. Shame on you, shame on Congress.” Christie’s never one to mince words, and just because he’s a Republican doesn’t mean he isn’t going to give it to members of his own party when he feels he deserves it. However, did they deserve it?

Well let’s see … if the Sandy relief bill had actually been for hurricane relief efforts, then a frustrated drubbing from Christie and others would be understandable. But the Sandy bill wasn’t just for hurricane relief efforts. It was just another pathetic, pork-laden bill disguised as legislation for a worthy cause. If someone can definitively prove how the following expenditures in the bill are related to Superstorm Sandy relief, then maybe the Republicans should reconsider their opposition:

* $150 million for Alaskan fisheries.

* $8 million for cars for the Homeland Security and Justice departments.

* $2 million for the Smithsonian to repair roofs damaged before Sandy.

* $336 million in Amtrak expenses

Yeah, I didn’t think so. It’s clear that these people in Washington are never going to learn when it comes to these pet projects, and it is also clear that we Americans are never really willing or capable of holding their feet to the fire on the issue. But back to Chris Christie, perhaps his frustration should have been directed at those who chose to use this bill as a vehicle for pork projects and thus render it unpassable (is that a word?). It sucked. Is that better?

My question is this: Why do we need congress to pass some special hurricane Sandy bill when we have FEMA, for one. This is not our first rodeo. We have had plenty of natural disasters, plenty of whole towns wiped out, but we are not prepared to help our neighbors? What does FEMA actually do anyway? What is the point of having a huge government agency to help when disasters strike and then not be able to do anything without an act of congress? Does anyone else see the problem here?

A second point: We can clearly see that the government is incapable of helping in a time of crisis, they just can't be there when the need is greatest. WHY DO WE WANT TO LET THEM DISARM US SO THAT WE CAN'T EVEN PROTECT OURSELVES IN A CRISIS?

And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear.
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon. --Pink Floyd, Brain Damage

The American people have gone completely mad letting our "leaders" go on as they do. Why do we have to be exceptional? Why can't we be just like all the other countries? History has already played that record and we know how it ends - at least those of us who are paying attention do.