So the idea was floated about what is the worst government idea ever. While it would be funny to say allowing Democrats to vote, I would have to say one of my favorite bad govermental ideas has to be the New Deal. What was sold to the American people as a way to help and a way to care for those who are needy has ended up being a huge draw on our countries resourses and a precedent that has encouraged the idea that government is the answer to so many of our problems. It has encouraged us to be less self sufficient and less self reliant. We are a worse country for it.
What are your ideas for worst government idea?
My favorite it running metro bus service out to the rural areas. I laugh every day that I see a big metro bus bringing 1 or 2 people out to Duvall. Who's the idiot that thinks this is economical?
ReplyDeleteDoug
The American Reinvestment and Recovery act (aka the stimulus bill) that spent $800 billion on things like Frisbee parks and studies to find out why men don't like to wear condoms. Later the American people found out the government lied about jobs created and saved.
ReplyDeleteHiring the Pillsbury Doughboy to be the Obama administration's spokesperson. Thank goodness he's just about gone!
ReplyDeleteSetting up Social Security to be the most expensive ponsi scheme in the history of the world and then convincing the American public that they deserve the money.
ReplyDeleteDebbie
+1 for welfare systems - as mentioned on the previous post.
ReplyDeleteWhat about the millions of dollars in public art grants spent on things like Jesus covered in ants or being urinated on. Even on a smaller scale - I assume it was the City of Duvall who wasted money on those Who-ville trees over by Starbucks and Pickletime.
ReplyDeleteGet a clue government - art should be funded by people who actually like the art.
Jill A
Bart,
ReplyDeleteI just went to the previous post to read your comment on welfare - you should summarize it over here to make sure no one misses it. You have a great point.
I know someone who used to distribute food stamps for DSHS so I can explain why your friend was denied while the person with the new SUV was accepted. DSHS calculates need based on net worth. So someone who owns a $500 car outright has a higher net worth than someone who owes $30,000 on a car worth $25,000. If you want government assistance it's better to over-extend yourself than live within your means.
Another maddening point she told me. If one of her "clients" inhereted or won money, they were encouraged to spend it all within a certain time period or it would count against their eligibility. I'm not kidding you. If someone on foodstamps inhereted $10,000 the food stamp worker would tell them they needed to spend it all within X number of months or risk being ineligible for foodstamps. How sick is that?
Jill A
I have to say that the art question is a big one for me too. I am a big believer of supporting the arts, which is why I pay to go to the opera, symphony and theatre. But I truly believe that Art should be supported by those who appreciate it and love it. I do not think it is the governments responsibility to fund or require art. As a civilized society we should be able to see the value in it and support it rather than taxing all of us to pay for art that in of questionable value.
ReplyDeleteOn the welfare point, here is my opionion.
ReplyDeleteI think that when we fall on hard times we have a duty to ourselves and our family to do all we can to repair the situation we are in before asking for help. Once we have exhausted that option we should turn to our extended family. Then to our religious community. Finally as a last resort, when all else has failed, we can turn to the government.
We have lost the self reliant additude of our ancestors. For those of us who are fortunate to have our grandparents still alive, call them and ask them about what life was like growing up. How the fathers worked 2 jobs to afford their modest home, how their mothers did sewing for the neighbors so they could feed their family. Ask their opinion of those on government welfare.
We have lost some of our character as a nation when we have allowed ourselves to be too reliant on the government. We have lost some of our own individual independence and also our liberty by allowing ourselves to become too dependent on the government and its cradle to grave desire to be so involved in our lives.
America is the land where anyone can come and make something of themselves. It is not the place where you can come and have the government make something of you.
Copy and paste from the previous post, as suggested by Jill:
ReplyDeleteOne of my pet peeves is government run / subsidized welfare systems. The government agencies are too distant to see how the system is being abused by people who won't work. A friend of mine was just denied welfare for her and her child because she owns a car, while the lady who was in line before her walked out with government provided iphones, food stamps, and vouchers for clothing and got behind the wheel of a very new and fancy SUV. When I see things like this it makes my blood boil because the people who really need help cannot get it while others are manipulating the system to get all that they can from it.
I would prefer to see all government subsidy of welfare stop immediately, and ask people to make charitable donations to local organizations instead. It's much harder to tell your neighbors that you need a new iphone for each of your kids than it is to get the government to buy one for you.
Adding on to it, based on Thomas' and Jill's comments:
The idea of basing benefits on net worth seems ridiculous - shouldn't it be based instead the difference between a minimum standard of living and the income of that person and any dependents?
It also drives me nuts when the sole criteria for benefits is based on the income of a person without taking into consideration any dependents. For example - if my yearly income were $100,000 and I were a single person, it should be pretty easy to have a good standard of living. Since I am married and have 4 children, that would bring the average down to $16,250 per year per person - which is pretty darn close to the poverty level. Unfortunately, most places only see the 6 figure number and don't see anything else.
I used to make $12,000 a year, working two jobs. I often ate beanie weenies because I could get 3 cans for 99 cents. A box of macroni and cheese was a big dinner for me. It never dawned on me to try to get government help - I would have been the first to tell you I wasn't poor. While I didn't consider myself poor, it wasn't the standard of living I wanted so it did motivate me to get a job that would pay for me to go to school at night. I worked my way up and now I make a very comfortable salary. The self-esteem I have from knowing I can always support myself is invaluable. Even if I lose my current job and can't find another at a similar salary, I know I can go back to doing anything to earn enough to survive. The self-esteem people get from earning a salary is critical to a healthy society. And it's not about someone giving you a job, it's about you doing whatever society values enough to pay you for so you feel like you are making a contribution.
ReplyDeleteAnother stupid idea is extending unemployment benefits out to 3 years. Think about it: the government will pay you for 3 years to not work and pretend that you've earned it by paying into the unemployment insurance pot all these years. Not only does this enable people to feel worthless, but it also hurts innovation. think of all the small businesses started by people who had to give up on finding a new job.
ReplyDeleteJill A
Not exactly a big government program, but a great example of government waste:
ReplyDeleteEvery time I drive by the corner sidewalk, ADA compliant, at the corner of Novelty and W Sno Valley, I laugh and roll my eyes. Not only has no one ever used or ever thought to use that piece of a sidewalk, but why does it need to be ADA compliant? How many people in wheelchairs have you seen coming down Novelty or crusing down Sno Valley?
That's a good question... I suspect it has something to do with traffic laws more than ADA though. I seem to recall reading somewhere that a curb cut implies a pedestrian right of way and I would guess that the bicyclists that ride down Sno Valley or up NHR would be able to use the right of way.
ReplyDeleteI recently moved to Duvall and I noticed that and wondered WTH. Seriously, why was it built?
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question above, it is for future development. For example, notice on 275th the ADA ramps and breaks in the sidewalk on the west side. That is where streets will eventually meet to form an intersection with 275th. Picture all of those fields that border Big Rock Rd and 275th in-filled with multi-family and commercial mixed use. That's why.
ReplyDeleteIs it also for a college campus still? That's where its going to go still?
ReplyDeleteMy 79 year old mother fell on ice a week ago and broke a bone in her leg. I had to take her to the bank in a wheelchair today. I was thankful for the convenience of the sidewalk ramps, no matter what some of you say about the ADA. Bobby
ReplyDeleteBobby,
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear about your mom. I hope she recovers quickly.
The way I saw the comment was first and foremost the obserdity of requiring sidewalks to be put in on any upgrade to any intersection. I don't believe anyone was saying the ADA was wrong or bad.
I think it is wasteful that tax money was spent in such a wasteful manner like adding a sidewalk to this intersection. This intersection is not used by pedestrians. It is a complete waste of money, both in design, construction and upkeep costs, to add this expence for no other reason than because some legislator in Olympia decided that it would be a good idea.
The real problem is that we lack local control and thus we lack the ability to adapt to each situation so we overreact to all situations and cost the tax payers a heap load of money on a sidewalk to nowhere. I think that the fact that this sidewalk, miles from any other sidewalk, had to be ADA compliant for all the wheel chairs that use it, just seems completely ridiculous.
We could have spent that money so much more wisely if we had local control rather than state mandates.
Bobby's point is a good one. Sometimes when we DO criticize a government mandate that seems wasteful we forget about people who's situation is not as fortunate as our own. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteJill A
Again someone is using my name to post a comment that would never come from me. The cowardace of some of the people who live in this town is disgusting. Stop hiding behind other people, whether it's people on this blog or people on the council, and come out and stand behind what you say. Grow some balls people.
ReplyDeleteJill A
Bobby - I'm sorry to hear about your mother as well. I do hope she recovers soon.
ReplyDeleteTo the Jill(s) - Is it possible that we have two people with the name Jill A here?
The posts about ADA and other government mandates have valid points. It is good to have the sidewalks where needed, and the access for people with mobility concerns is also appreciated. On the other hand, requiring compliance with a mandate that has so obviously failed to recognize that not all intersections are identical does seem like a waste. Unless a city / county growth plan can show that the sidewalk at the bottom of NHR will be used within a reasonable period of time, it was a waste to install it.
Jill's comment seems thoughtful and constructive to me.
ReplyDelete