McCain's "pork barrel" project reform is a political stunt. McCain himself is not "pork barrel" free. USA today reported (5/19/08: "McCain, who has made fighting special-interest projects a centerpiece of his presidential campaign, inserted $14.3 million in a 2003 defense bill to buy land around Luke Air Force Base in a provision sought by SunCor Development." Let's dig deeper into this.
Mc Cain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, has had its large share of “pork barrel.” Even though Alaska has enjoyed billions of dollars in state budget surplus starting before Sarah Palin became governor, her administration has the nerve to request $100’s of millions of dollars in “pork barrel” projects from Washington.
McCain is equating earmark projects with "pork barrel" which should not be. According to the Washington post, earmarks include "such items as $4 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which could not be eliminated without halting hundreds of construction projects around the country. Another big chunk goes to military construction, including housing for servicemen and their families. “ The New York Times report (5/4/08): “By some measures, large spending programs that Mr. McCain supports… count as earmarks.”
The truth about Barack’s earmark projects is that these are programs that benefit working Americans and their communities. They are projects that support health care, education, veterans, and infrastructure. Most voters would approve. These are not giveaways to rich corporations like SunCor Development. Here are some examples of Barack’s earmark projects:
American Red Cross of Illinois, for emergency preparedness, $5,000,000
Funding will assist in providing 29 chapters and 3 blood service regions of the American Red Cross with the resources to be able to deliver mass care services in a timely matter in the event of a large-scale disaster. Funding will be used for equipment such as backup generators, shelter trailers, shelter supplies, stockpile cots, heater meals, response vehicles, and communications devices. This equipment will be strategically placed throughout the state, and will allow the Red Cross to serve requests by hospitals and trauma requests immediately and up to 72 hours.
Benedictine University in Lisle, for the First Responder Program – An Education Initiative for Public Safety Officers and Iraqi and Afghanistan Veterans, $1,750,000
Currently, Benedictine offers secondary education degree programs to firefighters, who pay only for their textbooks; the University has absorbed all other costs. This project would expand the program to include Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and first responders throughout Illinois, allowing police, firemen, and Iraq and Afghanistan veterans throughout Illinois to receive a free education from Benedictine University.
Illinois Institute of Technology, to support its Integrated Advance Energy Systems Research Initiative, $750,000
The Illinois Institute of Technology’s Energy and Sustainability Institute is a nationally recognized leader in cutting edge energy research. The Institute has proposed an Integrated Advanced Energy Systems Research Initiative to apply its specialized expertise to solve critical research and development challenges directly related to achieving energy independence through environmentally friendly, commercially feasible approaches.
Lee County Highway Department in Amboy, Illinois, for road upgrades, $300,000
These improvements will include the upgrading of Steward, Elva, Paw Paw and Perry Roads to Class II, 80,000 pound truck routes and the construction of a new Elva Road extension over I-39. This project will be in conjunction with the Greater Rochelle Area Transportation Improvement Plan developed to accommodate the current and future commercial/industrial growth in the region.
Lewis and Clark Community College, for its mobile health clinic to provide healthcare services to rural areas, $350,000
Funds are requested to purchase a mobile health clinic (RV) which will provide dental, general health and mental health care to more than 90,000 patients in four rural Illinois counties (Greene, Calhoun, Jersey and Macoupin). Funding will allow the mobile health clinic to perform ongoing services for 3,500 children in eleven targeted schools, in addition to community services such as pre-natal examinations, obstetric and gynecological examinations, and general public education programs will be provided by the clinic.
National Center for Family Literacy, for its Family Literacy for All Expansion, $250,000
The purpose of the family literacy model development is to meet the unique needs of families through high-quality family literacy programs. Programs would take place on-site in elementary schools, where all four components of services are to be provided: adult education/ESL classes; children’s education; parent time; and Parent and Child Together (PACT) Time.
YMCA of the USA, for pioneering for healthy communities, $5,000,000
YMCA of the USA launched the Pioneering Healthier Communities initiative to jump-start healthy and sustainable community leadership, and to change strategies across the country to rapidly and dynamically advance efforts to curb the chronic disease and obesity epidemics.
After reading a number of articles including "As Mayor of Wasilla, Palin Cut Own Duties, Left Trail of Bad Blood" in the Washington Post, it is clear that Sarah Palin is truly an “agent of change”. She has a strong record of cleaning house and getting anyone who does not agree with her views and agenda out of the way. There is nothing democratic about her governing style. Her record is scandalous. It makes me think of how a small minority in Iraq held tight control of the country under its leader Sadam Hussein (Sunni vs Shiite). However, in her case it is much worst. At least in Iraq, the government was secular. Palin’s record shows an intertwined relationship between government and conservative Christian religion views.
The scary thing for anyone who believes in democratic principles (though a blessing for those who want to gain power and control at any cost) is that she has crafted an artful and effective way to do and get away with her self-advancing and centered agenda.
Reference Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/13/AR2008091302596.html?nav=hcmodule&sid=ST2008091302649&s_pos= )
