by Brandy Stetler

Created on: November 20, 2008   Last Updated: December 07, 2008

SAY NO TO PORK! NO, NO A THOUSAND TIMES NO!

Unfortunately, many members of Congress have forgotten that they work for us, the American people, not lobbyists and big money campaign donors. Their efforts and votes should NOT be for sale or trade, but that's what is going on up on the Hill.

If an employee tacked 'pork' onto an expense account or unearned hours onto their timesheet, they would be fired and prosecuted. Pork Barrel earmarking is, at the very least, unethical and is based upon illegal transactions. If a Congress member is willing to give preferential status to a select few, 'trade/sell' their votes and seek additional votes from other Congress members to get the pork added or seeks enough votes to hold up a legitimate bill until the pork is agreed to, isn't that self-serving fraud, corruption, dishonesty, etc? And how is that representing their constituents as a whole?

So, why do so many members of Congress continue to work for big money lobbyists and donors, then go to the VOTERS for reelection, promising rainbows and pots of gold which never seem to materialize? Why aren't they going to jail or at least facing charges?

All forms of fundraising should be exhausted instead of dipping into taxpayer dollars, if it's pork, then the Congress member should advise their money-grubbing pals to seek funding from private sources, grants, bonds, loans, etc. Dealing with lobbyists equates to dealing with loan sharks and drug dealers; the lobbyists promise campaign backing/funding in exchange for votes in Congress which puts untold amounts of taxpayer money into private hands. There are no guarantees that the funds will be used to benefit the ordinary taxpayer but, more often than not, most ends up in the pockets of opportunists at the top levels & possibly the Congress member.

Billions of dollars in PORK leave the federal coffers each year and it's getting worse as time goes by. The perfect example is the 'Bailout/Rescue' bill that was first rejected because one of the pork earmarks included was $250 million for ACORN. The version that passed included some insane chunk for wooden arrows. What is that all about?

If there is a genuine need for taxpayer dollars then the Congress member should present an appropriations bill. That will work only with legitimate issues which will stand alone as a bill though. Since most earmarks are pork & don't pass the smell test they have to be slipped into legitimate bills like disreputable relatives at a family reunion. Some members don't realize what's there & those that do pretend they don't.

There are a 'few' good guys on the Hill but, they are significantly outnumbered. All voters need to watch their representatives closely, research votes and generally evaluate the job that's being done in Washington. If you, the voter, are not satisfied then fire them at the next election. The 'Washington Insider' games have been played for decades at the expense of the regular American on Main Street and it's time for all of us to let them know that it's 'GAME OVER'. We want America back, NOW.

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