By Kathleen Knowles
Thanks to our American Politicians, I am given plenty of material for this column! Certainly after reading what is in the “stimulus bill,” Americans must be asking, Are we Nuts? No one in their right mind would call this anything but PORK. The $2.3 trillion bill (on which the stimulus bill of $90 billion is tacked onto) will fund the government and provide help to Americans?
Let’s examine some of what is in this monstrosity. First of all Americans will be getting $600 per individual in the household, with an additional $600 per child. That $600 is half of what Americans got last time. Just how far does congress think that is going to go for those that have lost jobs?
To some out there, they might say it is better than nothing . . . until they see what is actually in this bill. They will certainly be asking Are We Nuts? $300 million to the Endowment for the Arts. Really, they must be kidding! $300 million to Public Broadcasting/NPR, a liberal favorite. $720 million to the Social Security Administration. One might argue that is a good allocation until one finds out only $200 million is to help people. The rest is for administration cost.
Now this next one certainly answers the question Are We Nuts? $25 million goes for cleaning supplies for the capitol building. If you don’t believe it, just look at page 136 of this porker. Of course, our poor politicians aren’t paid enough for the short time they are in Washington, so they have allocated $9 million for miscellaneous expenses! Oh, and don’t forget the Inspector General is receiving $5 million for salaries and expenses.
$35 million is being given to the JFK Center for the Performing Arts. We all know entertainers desperately need money, right? How about $5 million for Community Planning and Development? And $300 million will go to the Endowment for Humanities, whatever the heaven’s name that is. $10,000 per person for student loan bailouts will be given, but not to you poor suckers who took the responsibility of paying yours back. $30 billion for the Department of Education stabilization, and an additional $200 million to Safe Schools Emergency Response to Violence Program. Of course we have to give NASA $100 million. $315 million for State Department Diplomatic Programs. $90 million is being sent to the Peace Corp. And you’ll love this one . . . $13 million to Howard University. (Huh?)
These are just the ones I picked out; there is much more in this insane “stimulus & government funding bill.” I saved the best Are We Nuts? items for last. $250 million to the Palestinian Authority, which has to be one of the most corrupt governments in the entire world. $4 billion will be sent to provide other nations with the Covid-19 vaccine. $10 million for gender studies is being sent to Pakistan, and $700 million to Sudan. $300 million is being allocated for Migrant and Refugee Assistance (page 147).
“Are We Nuts? Have our politicians gone completely insane? What about Americans? They can give money away to other countries, waste millions upon millions of dollars, but each American is getting a $600 check? There are other items that pertain to Covid assistance, but its hard to swallow the amount of money being sent out of this country when Americans are in need. When will we ever learn to demand that when Washington spends our tax dollars, that they put Americans first? ARE WE NUTS?
Kathleen Knowles
Contributing Writer
