John McCain really really really hates earmarks! Every campaign speech he has given recently, he harangues (actually, I'm not entirely sure what that word means) about how he has and will continue to stop pork barreling. Now, to my less politically savvy (two v's? Really? How flamboyant) friends, earmarks or "pork barreling" is how things in our great nation gets paid for. You know, bringing home the bacon, this little piggy went to market, when pigs fly and the like. When the United States congress pass bills to get things done, they also need money to do these things. Senators and Representatives specifically put earmarks in their bills, and their friend's bills in order to get certain projects in their respective states done. That's why we send them to congress!
Even though his running mate is one of the most greedy earmark requesters in the nation, McCain constantly claims that he and his running mate will veto every single bill with an earmark on it.
Really? How are we supposed to get anything built or done?
For the record: Yes, there are abuses of earmark abuse. It goes on but I wouldn't say it goes on more than the necessary, for example, the now infamous Bridge to Nowhere. This Alaskan town did not need the bridge, even though Sarah Palin really really wanted it. After the bridge became a laughing stock, and a national embarrassment, congress (not Palin) ended the bridge. Gov. Palin still ended up keeping the money they left her though.
In fact, she loves earmarks just as much as John McCain hates them. This year she requested $197 million worth of them this year, and $256 million of them last year. That's about $288 this year, and $376 per capita. FYI that's 10 times as much per capita as the other 48 states request. We're talking big bucks here.
However, earmarks are not all evil. Only when you request unreasonable amounts every year.
John McCain is so against them, here are some of the things that he voted against and opposed and would presumably veto if he were elected POTUS:
Flood-prevention projects in sates like MO and VA.
Drought aid for NV and NM.
Economic development for PA and WV.
Funding for the Florida Everglades and Yellowstone National Park (the only vote against).
Funds for schools.
Funds for bridges and bridge repair.
Funds for military bases.
Funds for disaster relief.
Funds for military housing.
Funds for senior housing (I guess him having seven houses, that vote makes sense).
Funds for renewable energy programs.
Funds for job training.
Funds for health care for veterans.
Funds for services for disabled kids.
(Source: Michael Grunwald of Time Magazine) <---- read!
All of these things are considered to be vital to our lives, economy, infrastructure and our future.
Having John McCain continue to oppose these things would be disastrous.
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