Friday, July 3, 2009

Excessive government spending


An Associated Press news article on Tuesday reported that as part of the federal government economic stimulus package, Congress set aside a down payment of $1.1 billion for research to discover the best medical treatments for a list of top 100 questions that doctors need answered. Despite all their schooling and continuing education, apparently our medical doctors have to guess at which treatment or test is best for a certain patient. Now our federal government is going to solve that problem for us patients and taxpayers.

Of the top 100 priorities identified in a blueprint report by the Institute of Medicine, one that caught my eye was the question of which of the myriad of treatments - from anti-inflammatory medicines to exercises - are best for lower back pain. How much is that specific research project going to cost us taxpayers?

Get this – the report didn’t put a price tag on the proposed studies but did indicate that the $1.1 billion will only cover a fraction of the projects; nor is it clear how quickly the answers will arrive.

It’s fair to say that not a dime of this $1.1 billion will improve immediate access to health care for Americans so the Pierini Fitness question of the day is what do you call this ambitious plan?

How about another example of excessive government spending.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum

5 comments:

Charles Long said...

I call it retarded.

Ralph said...

Good morning Mr. Ed.

My city (Hickory Hills, Illinois) received a $500,000 federal grant as part of the federal economic stimulus plan.

According to our mayor, Mayor Howley, "These funds will be used toward landscape design improvements."

Mayor Howley also joyfully informed us in the city newsletter that, "Several years ago the City received more than a million dollars for decorative lighting and design work."

(Insert Sarcastic Tone) And you thought the stimulus money was going to be wasted on unnecessary expenditures....

Pierini Fitness said...

Hello Charles & Ralph,

Thanks for the visits but get back to work because your President Obama needs your tax dollars to pay for this.

Have a great July 4th weekend!

Jim Carlson said...

Spending those inflated dollars is a result of the Federal Reserve to continue and continue and continue to print money. The dollar at this point is estimated to be 95% deflated. That is if you have a dollar in your pocket you actually have $0.05. Therefore if we work and pay taxes on top of this we are what we term to be catywompus. We all need to realize that the beginning of the solution is to abolish the Federal Reserve. In 1913 the Gold backed dollar disappeared, in 1968 the silver back dollar disappeared. The U.S. Constitution authorizes Congress to coin money. Congress created a mint to stamp the 'peoples' gold and silver into money. There was never any authorization to print money to start a bank and especially the Federal Reserve. Right now HR Bill 1207 is calling for an audit of the Federal Reserve. The Fed has created inflation and the value of the dollar which was was stolen by the governments "partner" in crime. So go ahead and celebrate Independence Day spending those inflated dollars.

Pierini Fitness said...

With inflation on the horizon, we need to learn from Wimpy, the hamburger loving character from the Popeye cartoon series.

Remember his famous line? "I'll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today".

Wimpy understood inflation.