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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Why governments run deficits, Part 1
Vice President Joe Biden, center, along with New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine, left, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, right, are seen after a news conference at City Hall in Philadelphia, Tuesday, July 28, 2009. The Obama administration on Tuesday announced $1 billion in grants to help keep police officers on the beat during the economic downturn and tried to assure cities not getting aid, that they won't be stiffed. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Here's a classic example of your tax dollars at work: It took one vice president, the U.S. attorney general, four governors and a host of government dignitaries to travel to City Hall to announce this big news yesterday:

Philadelphia is getting 50 new jobs.

A press conference to announce 50 new jobs used to be left to small-town mayors. Instead, Vice President Biden & Co. dropped by to announce Philadelphia will be getting $10.9 million in stimulus money to pay for 50 police officers over the next three years. The money is part of a $1 billion package announced yesterday by Biden, who was accompanied by Attorney General Eric Holder and Govs. Rendell, Corzine, Martin O'Malley of Maryland and Jack Markell of Delaware.

The money is designed to help 1,046 communities nationwide either hire more police or reduce the possibility of layoffs as a result of the recession and budget problems. Philadelphia is receiving more than half of the $20.2 million allotted for the commonwealth. Chester, Coatesville and Norristown are among the 19 communities in Pennsylvania who will share the money. Eighteen New Jersey towns will split $26.8 million.

The awards are somewhat of a dubious distinction. A community had to be in financial distress and have a high crime rate to qualify. Lucky for Philadelphia, the city is broke and crime ridden. But places like New York City and Pittsburgh didn't qualify.

This is not to belittle funding to fight crime. But why, in these tough economic times, does it take such a phalanx of politicians to announce the news?
Posted by Kevin Ferris @ 2:27 PM  Permalink | Post a comment
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