Brian Ridel of the Heritage Foundation in on WJ this AM.

[napi21]

He just said there are hundreds of Fed. programs that the Gov't can't show do anyone any good.

What are at least some of these programs? Of course this guy didn't mention any.

[Cobalt Violet]

1. Maybe he meant "any rich person any good."

:shrug:

[zbdent]

8. Nah, that's called the Defense Dept. ...

and the drug benefit is for the pharmaceutical industry ...

[bryant69]

2. This is a standard con game

Franken did a take on it in Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot. Every conservative knows that there are programs that suck (and there surely are), but when he starts bringing them up most of them are nickle and dime stuff - and most of the big programs are pretty defendable (unless you really think we should put the government in the bathtub and drown it).

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Cerridwen]

3. How many of the programs were part of the MIC...

the military industrial complex? My guess, few to none. I bet most programs which the neocon heritage foundation groupthink tank criticizes are programs that are less effective at turning people into drudge-like cogs for "the machine."

[napi21]

4. I found a list of pork projects from the 2007 appropriations bills.

I have to admit,even thought I only looked at the first dozen or so, most of these things sure don't look like they belong in the Federal Budget!

http://author.heritage.org/Research/Budget/upload/pork_projects.html

[DisgruntledVet]

5. Shame on you!

You don't think we should be spending a paltry million on the VERY important study of "Mormon Cricket & Grasshopper Activities in Utah"?

Just kidding. Seriously, most of the items on that list could easily be done away with, and the money better spent on social programs for people who truly need it.

[napi21]

7. Yea, I saw that one too! I realize it's Utah, but geesh!

It also really gripes me that there's no one you can write to about these things because they're added to these bills anonymously! I can just hear the dumb response I'd get if I just wrote to my local Rep. here in Ga. and how he had NOTHING to do with it!

[Cerridwen]

9. Grasshopper infestations are extremely damaging to farmers

and ranchers in the west.

Grasshoppers and Mormon Crickets

Plant Protection and Quarantine

May 2003

Rangeland in the western United States is an important agricultural resource because of the forage production used for livestock feed. Grasshoppers and Mormon crickets (hereafter, referred to collectively as grasshoppers) are natural components of the rangeland ecosystem. However, their populations can reach outbreak levels and cause serious economic losses, especially when accompanied by a drought. Land managers utilize integrated pest management techniques including grazing management, cultural and mechanical methods, prescribed burning, and other techniques to dampen the growth of grasshopper populations and prevent outbreaks.

Despite the best land management efforts, grasshopper infestations often cover vast acreage, and individual landowners may not have the resources to control these infestations and therefore, must rely on Federal support. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the Federal agency responsible for controlling economic infestations of grasshoppers on western rangelands with a cooperative suppression program. link

Don't let the name fool ya...outbreaks of these grasshoppers can have monumental effects on crops and forage. When they swarm, it looks like something out of an old sci-fi flick from the 50s.

[SoCalDem]

15. the flipside..

perhaps farmers are trying to grow stuff where native grasslands belong

:shrug:

[Cerridwen]

16. While I think I understand what you're saying...

this problem has been around for quite some time and isn't necessarily specific to just crops.

A quick google on the history of some of the infestations brought me this reminder (I've read about this off and on for years but didn't remember specifics)

Sometimes the migration involves only small bands. Their numbers, however, gradually increase over several years and may reach densities of 100 per square yard — outbreak proportions. Then the crickets migrate in hordes (ten to fifty thousand) to foothills, rangeland, and crops. The high densities may persist for 5 to 20 years. At the peak of the 1938 infestation, Mormon crickets wiped out 19 million acres in 11 states. (emphasis added) also more about 1848 infestation at link

edit: link

[Cerridwen]

10. As I suspected, many of the appropriations have to do with art,

community and science. Where's their list of military appropriations which don't work and/or aren't needed?

[Cosmocat]

11. BINGO !!!

I would bet 100 dollars there are HUNDREDS of porked up military industrial projects that ALONE would be greater than all of these earmarks combined ...

[Cerridwen]

13. And the military pork just goes on and on and on and on and on

Unlike several of the things listed in an earlier post which are one shot deals.

[kentuck]

6. But we should point out...

that this is the Heritage Foundation... and where have they been for the last six years as these earmarks have been quadrupling? Now that Democrats are in power...?

[DisgruntledVet]

14. Heritage

Heritage has been putting out this list for YEARS, this isn't just because we took over. They've been blasting the hell out of Bush and the GOP on this issue for being "too progressive."

[xchrom]

12. he must have been talking about corporate welfare.