The Tea Party Just Wants To Save Money!

If H1N1 had become a pandemic and there was no vaccine would you understand that the government was just trying to save money?  Aid for an earthquake in California or a Hurricane like Katrina, sorry we need to save money!  Besides it’s none of our business says Uncle Sam.

Tea Party groups have two major arguments with the Federal government.  First, the Federal debt is so high that it will leave a burden for generations to come.  Many say that our grandchildren will be faced with the problem.  Second, the Federal government is intruding in our lives at an unacceptable level.  Government is trying to control our lives.  The control that government is trying to impose is far beyond what the Constitution allows.  I am not clear which is of greater concern.  While I agree with the concern, I am not convinced that most people understand the consequence of a reduced role for government.

I decided to list some of the many projects and departments that have been adopted by the Federal government.  Which ones would we really be willing to forego?

-The Interstate highway system was built with a combination of money from the Federal government and individual state governments.  Funds continue to be made available to maintain and upgrade that system.  The highways are not only for private passenger cars but are used by the trucking industry.  Here in Los Angeles the Long Beach Freeway is a primary route for moving goods from the ports to distribution centers.  Los Angeles/Long Beach ports are the largest in the nation.

-Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are the three most expensive and most used Federal programs.  I have not met a single person who is willing to surrender their benefits including the wealthy and the Republicans who bad mouth those programs.

-The Food and Drug Administration is a popular target of those wanting more attention to detail.  FDA officials were roundly criticized for not enforcing health standards at the Peanut Corporation of America in Georgia.  The slaughter of sick cattle and the occurrence of salmonella poisoning has brought complaints about the FDA’s lack of enforcement.  When drugs are not approved in a timely manner we attack the FDA but if a drug was approved that has caused death or injury we say that it’s the fault of FDA procedures.

-The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the much maligned department that we want to ensure that the financial industry is not cheating investors.  It’s done a poor job but what if there was no agency? There wasn’t one before 1934.  The main reason for the creation of the SEC was to regulate the stock market and prevent corporate abuses relating to the offering and sale of securities and corporate reporting.           

-The FAA (Federal Aviation Agency) is respected around the world.

– The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) just fined Toyota $16 million.  The agency appears to be under manned.

 – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative agency in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

– The FBI recently arrested Najibullah Zazi, 24, a Colorado airport shuttle driver who has admitted receiving weapons training from al-Qaida, played a direct role in an alleged terror plot, according to court documents released Sunday. Authorities have said they don’t know the timing or location of any planned attack.

So which agencies are you willing to close to save money?