In Praise of Pork

p. 183-187

I laughed quiet a lot when I saw that Bush wanted to cut $5.7 billion of pork barrel projects to help reduce the deficit (If he ended the war in Iraq and Afghanistan that would help too). I do agree that asparagus research and mink reproductions projects seem like a waste of time but pork barrel projects also seem like a good idea if it goes to good use like road repairs etc. Like Edward M. Gramlich puts it, "one guy's pork is another guy's red meat." If it helps unemployed men get jobs by building a new road than that is good right ? I don't know I think the whole pork barreling thing is pretty confusing ... I understand that many think it's a waste of money but at the same time pork ensure that taxpayers get something for their money.