These are some of the projects our leaders deem worthwhile for our money:
- $1.7 million for pig odor research in Iowa;
- $6.6 million for termite research in New Orleans;
- $2.1 million for the "Center for Great Genetics" in New York;
- $1.7 million for a honeybee factory in Weslaco, Tex.;
- $333,000 for a school sidewalk in Franklin, Tex.;
- $207,000 for a tattoo removal program in Los Angeles;
- $143,000 for an online encyclopedia in Nevada;
- $951,500 for a "sustainable Las Vegas;
- $238,000 for the Polynesian Voyaging Society in Honolulu;
- nearly $10 million requested by a lobbying company, PMA Group, that was raided by the FBI over its campaign donations.
2 comments:
Some of these projects appear worthwhile:
Anyone who's ever lived near a pig farm will appreciate more research into pig odor; preventing termites from eating our dwellings sounds good, and though I'm not sure about "Great Genetics", the decline in honeybees makes a bee factory sound appealing. No-one can complain about a new sidewalk outside a school (even if it is plated with gold! $333,000?) and have sympathy with the young Californian teen who, after a night of drunken debauchery, wakes up to find he has, "I Love Cynthia" indelibly syringed into his forearm and his mother standing over him waving a rolling pin. I'm not at all sure we need another online encyclopedia, even in Nevada, and any suggestion of sustaining Las Vegas one second longer than necessary is anathema.
Presumably, the Polynesian Voyaging Society need their money to voyage. With $238,000 they could no doubt do so in style, but hell, after what we've done to Polynesia over the centuries, a luxury yacht seems a small price in recompense.
But why, oh why, is the bulk of this cash being given to a dodgy lobbying firm? (Is there any other sort?) Something tells me there's a nasty Murtha smell floating around that one. Perhaps some of this money should go to 'tainted politician odor' research?
Indeed, it looks as though SOMMRU, which is, I think, the research lab McCain was referring to in his 10 Porkiest Pork list, does research on things like pig diet, pig health, and the like. If you want to ask why the pork industry isn't footing the bill, be my guest.
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