Growls

The American Thinker asks whether readers have ever wondered “where that $800 billion in stimulus money went? Do you ever think about the jobs created as a result of it?”

For an answer, AT points to Mark Steyn’s weekend column in the Orange County Register, saying “Steyn is is in rare form,” adding the column “is both hilarious and tragic.” The essence of the column is that: “Statism (is) the only thing being stimulated.” Or, as Steyn writes:

“We're spending trillions we don't have to create government programs to spend even more trillions we don't have.”

While visiting the neighboring state of Vermont, he saw an ad by a non-profit group of ‘community organizers’ who were “just like the president.” The “designated ‘anti-poverty agency’ was seeking job applicants who would be funded by the so-called American Recovery & Reinvestment Act, known to most taxpayers as the $787,000,000 (that's billions) Porkulus. He then explains what the jobs entail. He concludes by saying:

“The stimulus will do nothing for the economy, but it will dramatically advance the cause of statism (as Mark Levin rightly calls it). Last week's vote in California is a snapshot of where this leads: The gangster regime in Sacramento is an alliance between a corrupt and/or craven political class wholly owned by a public sector union-bureaucracy extortion racket. So what if the formerly Golden State goes belly-up? They'll pass the buck to Washington, and those of us in nonprofligate jurisdictions will get stuck with the tab. At some point, the dwindling band of citizens still foolish enough to earn a living by making things, selling things or providing services other than government-funded program coordination will have to vote against not just taxes but specific agencies and programs – hundreds and thousands of them.

“The bad news is that our children will not enjoy the American Dream. The good news is they'll be able to apply for an American Dream Readiness Assistance Coordination Grantwriter Program. May the Funds be with you!”

Thanks for “another gem,” Mark. Other growls featuring Mark Steyn include here, here, and here.