First let’s define what an “earmark” is. An earmark is “A
provision in a piece of Congressional legislation that directs specified
federal funds to specific projects, programs, organizations, or individuals.”
In 2010 according to EndingSpending .com, Representative Doug Lamborn inserted 4 (solo) earmarks for a
total of $11,700,000, in combination with others (6) $16,020,000. With the
current debt at $15,508,094,699,053 and growing every second (this figure is
out of date the second you type it) earmarks are a big deal.
The bigger deal is that we have a congressman here in
District 5 Colorado that touts his conservatism but then spends as if we have
the money to do so. If this is conservatism it makes you wonder, what is the
definition of conservative? The real problem is we no longer send people to
congress that want to serve the constituency and the country; they are there to
serve themselves. The founders of our nation would be appalled. “Bringing home
the bacon” as was often the role of congress has never been a good idea or
constitutional. It has been an accepted practice by inside Washington
politicians that has simply been a way to pay for votes. It is a practice of
taking one hard working individuals tax dollars and giving those dollars to a “preferred”
constituent of the congressman. Think about that for a moment.
The practice of earmarks is appalling! The Tea Party is the
result of concerned Americans gathering together to put an end to the federal
government’s unconstitutional excesses. One of the goals is to rid the federal
government of inside politicians and send citizen legislators to congress to
end the insanity. And it is insanity. If you don’t realize that we are spending
ourselves into oblivion, you are insane. If you continue to participate in
these earmark practices as a sitting congressman you are supporting the fiscal
insanity. That is not what conservatives do.
People do not want to hear about how their congressman has
secured funds for pet projects in their district or state. The entire process
has to stop. If a project impacts the country it deserves federal funds, if it
impacts the state it should be funded at the state level. Most programs today
would have been determined to be unconstitutional before the FDR
administrations assault on the Supreme Court, and the willingness of the people
to allow for the “redistribution of wealth” through social programs at a time
of government induced crisis. The same atmosphere of government induced crisis
is permeating the political climate today and is causing people to turn their
heads away from the constitution. But not the Tea Party.
We must send a message to every representative regardless of
party that the days of paying off your supporters are over. Abiding by the
constitution is payment enough. If we can return to the original limited intent
of the founders we will thrive again. We can only make that change if we change
the people in congress. All of the people in congress that have shown a lack of
commitment to our founding principles. Earmarks are not a founding principle of
this great nation.
I will interview Robert Monday night at 6:00 PM Mountain
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