[PV] High Risk Spending...Ron Paul Weekly Column

[Frenchy]

High Risk Spending

August 13, 2007
Last week this column addressed the train wreck that federal spending has become. To score political points politicians will make loud noise about fairly small matters such as earmarks, even while refusing to address the real problem. Namely, that our federal government is too big and does too much. Politicians prefer to pass a bill or create a program every time somebody points to a new social problem, this way they can tell their constituents how much they are doing to help. Instead of rationally explaining the proper role of government, politicians have attempted to play the role of friend, preacher, parent, social worker, etcetera-- in essence, whatever any organized special interest can demand.
Waste, fraud and abuse are often easy targets. Everybody knows a story of the government doing something absolutely ridiculous and wasteful. Plus, recent headlines have been packed with stories of corruption in Washington.
One thing that has not drawn enough attention is the link between the size of government and the mismanagement that leads to wasted money. If the government was restrained within its proper constitutional functions, it would be far better managed and much more readily would proper oversight occur.
You see, while waste, fraud and abuse are very easy to attack, it seems they are much more difficult to actually address within the current federal behemoth. For example, the General Accounting Office puts out a “high risk list” and describes this list as programs with “vulnerabilities to fraud, waste and abuse and mismanagement.”
There are currently 27 programs and operations on this list, up from 26 last year. But here are the more surprising facts, the list was originated with 14 programs in 1990. Of those original 14 programs, from 17 years ago, only 8 have been removed. How can it be that 6 programs remain on such a list nearly two decades later? While government is supposed to move slowly, this is ridiculous.
What GAO is saying is that a problem exists, we have been aware of it for 17 years, and it is still not corrected. Of course, with the size and scope of federal activity, including attempting to rebuild societies in the middle east, and massively expanding federal involvement in education (along with thousands of other “programs”), it is small wonder that this list doesn’t really get addressed. Yet it does seem reasonable to ask “If you can’t stop waste in 6 federal programs after 17 years, how exactly will you improve local schools or foreign nations?”
In the time that the GAO list has existed, there have been 33 additions and a mere 18 removals, including two this year. Only when the people demand the federal government stop trying to meet any and all demands, and instead return to a constitutionally limited republic, will the list of programs subject to waste, fraud and abuse be dramatically reduced. While government will never be perfect, a limited government is far more able to not only identify problems, but to actually correct them.
http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2007/tst081307.htm

[eric_t12]

but... if we limit the government who will take care of the children? or properly insure they are educated? or restrict my right to own arms? or guard the border... oh wait they dont do that, much.

they only don't do so well because they don't have the funding, or the manpower, or the authority.

[eric_t12]

please ignore the previous sarcasm

[cucamelsmd15]

Originally Posted by eric_t12

but... if we limit the government who will take care of the children? or properly insure they are educated?

Its called personal responsibility, something Americans have had nothing to do with for the past 50 years.

[Frenchy]

It's called OWNERSHIP!

Message from Ron Paul..........

August 13, 2007


Phew, what a week -- what a great week in Iowa. But first the
important news: my wife Carol had a heart-pacemaker implanted on Sunday, and
she is doing much better. She had a scare -- me too! -- and we are both
so grateful for all your good wishes and prayers. They worked. And
now she is safely back in Texas.

As I campaigned from morning to night in the August heat the last week,
sometimes I'd get tired. And then I'd think of all the supporters,
working in Iowa and so many other states, who never stop no matter how
tired they are. Could I ever do less? Never. And I never will.

What could be more important than this movement of ours -- for freedom,
peace, and prosperity? We hold the future of our country, of our
children and grandchildren, in our hands. We can never stop, never flag.
And we never will.

One old friend compared this campaign to the tortoise, and our
opponents to the hare, in the old Aesop’s fable. The hare was fast and
flashy, but because of over-confidence and carelessness, he lost the race.
The tortoise kept going, step by steady step, taking nothing for
granted, never giving in, never giving up, and winning the race.

In Iowa, we took some good steps forward in our race. Considering the
converts we made, the organization we brought forth, and the amount of
money we spent as compared to the others, we are on the right
trajectory.

And now, after I make sure Carol is well taken care of, I am off to New
Hampshire, and campaigning in Texas for our straw poll on September 1
(http://www.texasgop.org/site/PageSer...traw_Poll_Home).

This our moment. Not only because Americans are sick and tired of
foreign wars, of the oppressive income tax, of growing restrictions on our
precious liberties -- but because spending, deficits, and Federal
Reserve troublemaking have brought on a global financial crisis that
endangers all of us. Now, of all times in our modern history, we need the
message of sound money and economic freedom taught to all our people. How
desperately we need the truth.

This is a dangerous time for all we believe in. Now, above all, we
must spread the truths of the Constitution, of the rule of law, of life,
of peace, of freedom, of an America that will truly be a city on the
hill.

Join me in doing just that, with your most generous donation
(https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate/). We have a country to win.

Sincerely,

Ron

[AZXD]

Steve,
Glad to hear his wife is OK. I read about this but hadn't posted about it.

As for the original article,
Who would ever imagine that a government agency could identify a problem and not fix it
But I guess it's OK
There has been no public outcry to fix anything for so long, I don't think voicing anything at a level less than what occurred over the amnesty bill, would even be recognized.

Of course RP is killing his political aspirations when he boldly states "One thing that has not drawn enough attention is the link between the size of government and the mismanagement that leads to wasted money.".

I mean it's a wonder someone didn't run him over in a parking lot long before his run for Presidency began
To think that anyone in government would do something so bold as to suggest that a reduction in government size might just control some of the fraud, waste, and abuse that we hear of almost daily. I can only imagine what is happening that we do not hear about

But I guess logic does not the politician make, and I fear we will never get a legitimate answer to the question he has posed. “If you can’t stop waste in 6 federal programs after 17 years, how exactly will you improve local schools or foreign nations?”

It's a heck of a question. I hope someone in the GAO can develop an answer. Perhaps they need a manager in DC?

Maybe they need someone who can read, write, and also utilize complete, intelligent language when they open their mouth

They say communication is the key to solving many problems. So perhaps someone who can communicate a vision of a smaller constitutional government with guaranteed freedoms, is what this country needs.

If it's not RP, I'm at a loss because I really don't see these attributes in the other candidates.

[eric_t12]

If it's not RP, I'm at a loss because I really don't see these attributes in the other candidates.

good, otherwise we'd leave iraq to the terrorists like we did vietnam! look at that communist stronghold we left there! and how the world mocks us for leaving...! /sarcasm

[Brickboy240]

Again...another reason I back Ron Paul - he is one of the only ones in DC that even slightly understands what needs to be done economically in this country to sustain our way of life.

The way our govt. spends and manages money has gone from pitiful to absolutely horriffic in the past 50-60 years. Govt. has never been stellar in regards to money management, but what has come from BOTH parties since about the 60s or so is absolutely frightening. Since then, the mentality has just spread and we cannot continue to just talk a good game every 4 years on spending then act like idiots the rest of the time.

Neither party has any sort of advantage over the other on spending and the budget - they're both awful. What do you expect when the majority of your elected officials are beholden to powerful corporate interests (many use to work for them or will be handed board positions when they are out of office) or are lawyers who have little economic sense or have worked in govt. most of their lives. How can we expect these buffoons to manage our tax monies as they should?

Also, look at what has happened in the real estate market lately with the sub-prime loan fiasco. Those types of loans should have been illegal. We also have NO economic education going on in public school that might alert consumers to how damn dangerous this type of loan could be and make many of these people realize they just can't afford what they're trying to buy.

Then, we have banks and credit card companies tempting millions into revolving credit card debt they will most likely never pay off or loaning people money against what little equity they built up in their homes. There are NO laws or restrictions on bank and credit card companies....its a free-fire zone on US consumers. Again...politicians are beholden to these industries...wasn't MBNA one of the largest contributors to the Bush campaign? Why do you think the Bush admin has been so lax on these industries, passed universal default laws and made it harder for people to declare bankruptcy?

Ron Paul is probably the only candidate that is not beholden to powerful corporate interests that are looking out for themselves first and don't give a fig about the average citizen. I am all for capitalism but not when it so outrightedly hurts average Americans or preys on the emotions of gullible comsumers.

Ron Paul's economic philosophy makes him a pariah in DC, but hard decisions, cutbacks and legislations that might not benefit coporate America first are what is needed if we want ot hand our kids an America that looks anything like what we enjoyed growing up in.

- Brickboy240