It was anger over taxation that triggered the first tea party back in 1773, and tax and spending issues remain a key flash point driving the modern movement. Today, people from both sides of the political fence cannot fail to be alarmed by the sums of money that the federal government wastes. The following is a small effort to inform tea party conservatives about this issue, and anyone else who cares about how their tax dollars are spent.
The Department of Defense has some horrific examples of waste and incompetence, although in fairness this is sometimes the fault of politicians rather than military leaders. Mismanaged and/or canceled projects have resulted in the waste of many billions of dollars. Policy makers often try to portray project cancellations as savings while ignoring the billions that have already been spent on what may be perfectly valid projects.
The $2 billion Crusader mobile cannon project was shelved in 2002 after army top brass decided it was no longer needed. They also ditched the Comanche reconnaissance helicopter having lavished over $7 billion on it. They also canceled its replacement, a decision which incurred additional multiple hundred million dollar losses.
The navy also has had its share of ill-fated mega-budget projects. The amphibious EFV craft was commissioned for the US marine corps. It was part of an "over the horizon" strategy for ocean-based assaults that was instigated in the 1980's. The project was terminated in 2011 after $3 billion of an earmarked $15 billion was spent on its development. The ax was swung by defense secretary Robert Gates when the cost per-unit was deemed too high.
The military has also squandered millions on careless civil aviation expenditures. It spent a colossal $100 million between 1997 and 2003 on 270,000 airline tickets that it never used. These tickets were in fact fully refundable but Pentagon staff didn't trouble themselves with claiming the refunds. Between 2001 and 2002 the Pentagon was also found to have paid twice for 27,000 tickets (incurring a further $8 million of waste).
Medicare is one of, if not the most wasteful government program, yet its popularity with voters makes reform a difficult matter. It routinely pays over the odds for drugs and other medical supplies, sometimes as much as eight times more than it needs to. For example, the Department of Health and Human Services has found that Medicare pays on average double the amount paid by the Department of Veteran Affairs for the same items.
The preceding examples are bad enough, but at least the money spent has been accounted for. A 2003 report by the Department of the Treasury revealed $24.5 billion in so-called 'unreconciled transactions'. These are expenditures that auditors are unable to account for, or put more simply, it's money that has simply vanished.
In light of the taxes they have to pay, increasing number of taxpayers are becoming angry about this kind of profligacy. Lawmakers continually speak of the need to tackle government waste, but little ever seems to get done. If pressure groups like the tea party can generate enough awareness around this issue, then perhaps there will one day be more concerted efforts to give taxpayers the value for money they deserve.
The Department of Defense has some horrific examples of waste and incompetence, although in fairness this is sometimes the fault of politicians rather than military leaders. Mismanaged and/or canceled projects have resulted in the waste of many billions of dollars. Policy makers often try to portray project cancellations as savings while ignoring the billions that have already been spent on what may be perfectly valid projects.
The $2 billion Crusader mobile cannon project was shelved in 2002 after army top brass decided it was no longer needed. They also ditched the Comanche reconnaissance helicopter having lavished over $7 billion on it. They also canceled its replacement, a decision which incurred additional multiple hundred million dollar losses.
The navy also has had its share of ill-fated mega-budget projects. The amphibious EFV craft was commissioned for the US marine corps. It was part of an "over the horizon" strategy for ocean-based assaults that was instigated in the 1980's. The project was terminated in 2011 after $3 billion of an earmarked $15 billion was spent on its development. The ax was swung by defense secretary Robert Gates when the cost per-unit was deemed too high.
The military has also squandered millions on careless civil aviation expenditures. It spent a colossal $100 million between 1997 and 2003 on 270,000 airline tickets that it never used. These tickets were in fact fully refundable but Pentagon staff didn't trouble themselves with claiming the refunds. Between 2001 and 2002 the Pentagon was also found to have paid twice for 27,000 tickets (incurring a further $8 million of waste).
Medicare is one of, if not the most wasteful government program, yet its popularity with voters makes reform a difficult matter. It routinely pays over the odds for drugs and other medical supplies, sometimes as much as eight times more than it needs to. For example, the Department of Health and Human Services has found that Medicare pays on average double the amount paid by the Department of Veteran Affairs for the same items.
The preceding examples are bad enough, but at least the money spent has been accounted for. A 2003 report by the Department of the Treasury revealed $24.5 billion in so-called 'unreconciled transactions'. These are expenditures that auditors are unable to account for, or put more simply, it's money that has simply vanished.
In light of the taxes they have to pay, increasing number of taxpayers are becoming angry about this kind of profligacy. Lawmakers continually speak of the need to tackle government waste, but little ever seems to get done. If pressure groups like the tea party can generate enough awareness around this issue, then perhaps there will one day be more concerted efforts to give taxpayers the value for money they deserve.
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