Government Waste Nauseates

Voters in Colorado this week repudiated a slew of proposed tax increases, even those targeted for “education.” The Associated Press reports:

Voters [in Colorado] resoundingly rejected the only statewide tax hike on ballots this November, a slight temporary increase in sales and use taxes to shore up public schools decimated by years of budget cuts. In all corners of the state Tuesday, Coloradans also swatted down proposed local tax hikes on dozens of local questions on everything from building a new recreational center in a Denver suburb to hiring a second full-time police officer in a small western Colorado town.

No sooner had Coloradans of all political stripes spoken than liberals who lust for your money began their hand-wringing. “How could they,” you could hear left-wing commentators across the nation lament. “Don’t they know it’s for the children?”

Before they get their knickers in a bunch, these liberals should consider the recent announcement by the Department of Energy’s inspector general that he has launched nearly 100 investigations into possible malfeasance regarding the 2009 stimulus bill. POLITICO reports:

In written testimony prepared for delivery to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today, Inspector General Gregory Friedman said the investigations have involved “various schemes, including the submission of false information, claims for unallowable or unauthorized expenses, and other improper uses of Recovery Act funds.”

So far, the investigations have led to five criminal prosecutions and brought in “over $2.3 million in monetary recoveries,” Friedman said.

“This includes a series of cases involving fictitious claims for travel per diem resulting in the recovery of $1 million alone in Recovery Act funds,” he added.

This is the reason why so many people, even so many average Democrats, are sick of handing over their money to the government: They know it will be wasted. They know there will be corruption. And even the money that does go to where it is supposed to  will do little good and possibly much harm.

Education is perfect example. How many billions of dollars have taxpayers poured into the education sink hole over the last 40 years? And what do they have to show for it? Take a look at this video of Miss Teen South Carolina for a clue.

That poor girl was educated with your tax dollars. I say stop the abuse.

Voters aren’t stupid. They know the government is ripping them off, and they’ve had it. Kudos to my home state for shouting it from the rooftops.