Mainstreet Economic Recovery is Full of Stinky Pork

As I watched a CNN article on the U.S. Mayors infrastructure plan, concocted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, my blood pressure skyrocketed. Their 800+ page document is euphemistically entitled "Main Street Economic Recovery: 'Ready To Go' Jobs and Infrastructure Projects." This brilliant plan, hatched by self-serving mayors, contains 11,391 infrastructure projects proposed by 427 cities.

Led by Miami Florida Mayor, Manny Diaz, he said "To reverse the current economic crisis, we must invest wisely. We must invest where we get the greatest return. We must invest in Main Street." It all sounds good so far, right? One would envision public works projects to repair the crumbling infrastructure of the nation's cities.

But Mayor Diaz and others have redefined the term "infrastructure" to mean nothing but pork spending, pure and simple. He had the utter gall to say "we must invest wisely", when the list of projects are hilarious except for the gravity of the economic situation.

Here are some of the wise, greatest returns in the voluminous report:

- a $4.8 million polar bear exhibit at the Providence, Rhode Island, zoo.

- a new $1.5 million water ride at the Grapeland Water Park in Diaz's own city.

- a proposed $20 million minor league baseball museum in Durham, North Carolina

- $6.1 million for corporate jet hangars at the Fayetteville, Arkansas, airport

- $20 million for renovations at the Philadelphia Zoo

- a $1.5 million program to reduce prostitution in Dayton, Ohio

- and money for aquatic centers, museums, bike paths, zoos, skateboard parks, dog and equestrian parks, police department stun guns, tree planting and murals -- total $376.5 million.

I watched as the CNN interviewer asked Mayor Diaz about some of these proposed projects and why they aren't considered pork spending. He squirmed, ducked, feinted, parried and sweated his way through the interview. His defense ranged from "he didn't have time to read the full report", and that the projects were "needed". The CNN reporter pressed on, asking him if he was aware of the $1.5 million dollar water ride. He wasn't. When it was pointed out that it was in his own city, he then said it's possible that it referred to one of the city's water parks. More squirming. If nothing else, the reporter put him on the hot seat and that was with polite questions and no hardball grilling.

At a time when our highways, roads, utilities, bridges, etc., are in terrible disrepair, these chumps want to scam the taxpayer out of more money for their pet projects. Because, unless you are living under a rock, this despicable pork translates into votes for their reelection. Nothing more, nothing less.

Wouldn't you like to add your own residential projects to this list? How about a new in-ground swimming pool, perhaps with cocktail serving ex-prostitutes from Dayton, Ohio?

I really despise politicians of all stripes. I'm outraged and you should be, too. Get involved and vote against this horrendous waste of taxpayer's money - our money! Contact your city Mayor's office and find out if they have projects in the report and what they consist of. If it's pork, demand the proposals be removed. Another great resource is the Citizen's Against Government Waste. It's a non-partisan organization and they hold every politician responsible if they are wasting taxpayer money. Check the resource link I provided.