Archive for September 21st, 2006
I shouldn’t be surprised, especially in a State where out of control spending is the norm. Perhaps disgust would be a more appropriate word to use to describe my reaction. DOT funding of museums is a fine example of pork with a capital “P”!
Let me digress a moment to explain what led to this rant. I was reading Buffalo Rising, the City page, and ran across an article titled Peddalin’… Off To Buffalo. An Orchard Park couple currently has a Pedaling History bicycle museum in Orchard Park that they hope to relocate to the Inner Harbor development. During the course of reading this article, I learned that the DOT provides taxpayer funding for the construction of surface transportation museums. Talk about the bastardization of the concept of a limited government, when does the indefensible, out of control spending of public money stop?
I have nothing against the museum itself. It sounds like a nice concept. I do vehemently opposed taxpayer money being spent on a project of this nature. The viability of the project is immediately rendered less important with the inclusion of a possible $2 million in grant money from the DOT. The financial risk is being underwritten by the State with the taxpayers’ money.
The mission statement of the DOT follows, taken directly from their website.
It is the mission of the New York State Department of Transportation to ensure our customers — those who live, work and travel in New York State — have a safe, efficient, balanced and environmentally sound transportation system.
I have reread that statement several times and can not find the justification for museum funding. The failure of State Agencies to be held accountable for spending programs will lead to the continued economic decline of New York State.
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There are two popular theories to explain why gas prices are falling. The Republicans stand to gain the most at the ballot box if the trend continues. Let’s take a look at each.
The effects of supply and demand are believed by many to explain the falling gas prices. Demand is supposedly down, increasing the supply and lowering the prices. Part of the perceived supply problem was the result of a hurricane season that never really got off the ground. Another part is due to the uncertainty of events in the Middle East. The current administration bears responsibility for the pressures that threatened the supply and drove prices up. That does not correlate into taking credit for the current falling prices. Under this scenario, falling gas prices should not have any influence on the upcoming elections.
A second theory purports that Bush, et al, are manipulating market prices. There are those that completely dismiss this explanation. Given the right set of circumstances with a decreased demand coupled with some cooperation from foreign countries, this could be possible. Lew Rockwell speculates about the falling gas prices on his blog.
A lower oil price is great, but can there be any doubt that Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and other Bush family colonies are selling reserves and pumping like mad to make it so? I predict it will work, by the way. The Republicans will retain control of Congress.
Given the history of the current regime with respect to foreign intervention, I would conclude that falling gas prices is just another example of manipulation of the public by Bush and company. The antidote? Regime change in November!
