Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - The Obama Presidency

ISiddiqui · 03-10-2009, 06:21 PM

2% of how much is the question (answer, a Hell of a lot). Also how are the kickbacks given out? Those with seniority get the pick. Why? Because its to keep the people who've been incumbents longest a greater share of the prizes. It's a self serving system.

There is a reason why candidate Obama was against it as well.

Earmarks are part of the broader problem. That's not the end of the issue, but definitely one of the beginnings.

As for the executive branch. I think it can look at individual spending projects and decide with less bias than a Senator that wants that project to help get re-elected. There are numerous cases of the Pentagon wanting a base closed, but some Congressman or Senator makes a stand and keeps it open. Why is that the executive branch's fault?

And I hate the reference The West Wing, but it gives a great demonstration of why these things seem to cost so much for the military. It's because of the exact specifications required (in the show it was for an ashtray to split into 3 equal pieces when it breaks rather than be in hundreds of pieces so during battle you don't have to worry about ashtray shards).

Not saying the executive branch is perfect, but I believe it is far more dispassionate about pet projects that help out one district.

03-10-2009, 06:21 PM	#685
ISiddiqui Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Decatur, GA	2% of how much is the question (answer, a Hell of a lot). Also how are the kickbacks given out? Those with seniority get the pick. Why? Because its to keep the people who've been incumbents longest a greater share of the prizes. It's a self serving system. There is a reason why candidate Obama was against it as well. Earmarks are part of the broader problem. That's not the end of the issue, but definitely one of the beginnings. As for the executive branch. I think it can look at individual spending projects and decide with less bias than a Senator that wants that project to help get re-elected. There are numerous cases of the Pentagon wanting a base closed, but some Congressman or Senator makes a stand and keeps it open. Why is that the executive branch's fault? And I hate the reference The West Wing, but it gives a great demonstration of why these things seem to cost so much for the military. It's because of the exact specifications required (in the show it was for an ashtray to split into 3 equal pieces when it breaks rather than be in hundreds of pieces so during battle you don't have to worry about ashtray shards). Not saying the executive branch is perfect, but I believe it is far more dispassionate about pet projects that help out one district. __________________ "A prayer for the wild at heart, kept in cages" -Tennessee Williams Last edited by ISiddiqui : 03-10-2009 at 06:23 PM.