The U.S. government gave a grant to a community in Washington to build a wine and food pavilion. But the Feds required the local community to cough up $100,000. I mean, it would look like a terrible waste of taxpayers’ money if the locals didn’t pay anything.
Well local politicians aren’t going to be roped in so easily. Sure, the community agreed to pay $100,000 to get the money, but now it’s dragging its feet. I mean, who really expects the local taxpayers to pay $100,000 to the Feds. The Feds owe it to the community, right?
This is part of a national program. The Feds pay confiscated and borrowed money to fund boondoggles. That’s the government’s job, right? “Boondoggles R Us.” But they want to make it look reasonable. They ask for a token payment.
Local governments sign papers. But then comes judgment day. The locals claim they just can’t afford it. Times have changed. Revenues are down. “You don’t really expect us to pay, do you? That was then. This is now.”
If the locals don’t fork over the money for the food center, the Feds won’t pay.
I'm rooting for the locals. “Not a brass farthing!”
The people who want the funding have asked the county to write the check.
It turns out that everyone wants into the act. The requests for local funding are at $10 million.
It turns out that politicians at all levels are trying to bail out.
With about $1.4 million remaining from the state grant, the port needs to raise $535,000 to match the $2 million federal grant. Most will come from private donations; the port is counting on the county to provide $100,000.
What, exactly, is the money going to buy? This: “a destination for wine and food education, featuring a tasting room, kitchen, exhibits, teaching vineyards, gardens, classrooms and conference rooms.”
In short, a boondoggle.
Is the national government going bankrupt? Yes. Will this ever stop? Not until it’s bankrupt.
When Washington’s checks stop, people making their living from boondoggles will have to find new careers. They will be a glut on the market.
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Published on Gary North on May 17, 2012. The original is here
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