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March 29, 2010
More Americans Resist Porkulus
Posted by The MaryHunter at March 29, 2010 6:30 AM
Forget about simmering. The frustration of the American people at wasteful "stimulus" spending is boiling over. Take Ruthsburg, Maryland as an example. A dozen huge mylar pig balloons were flown in from Massachusetts and flown above a town rally protesting the latest $70 million Porkulus project.
The pigs were a reminder that many in this rural community - and virtually everyone gathered in the high school auditorium that night - viewed the federal project as wasteful. Take the $70 million in stimulus funds and the promises of hundreds of new jobs somewhere else, they said.
For more than three hours, officials from the State Department Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the General Services Administration patiently answered questions and withstood scathing comments that revealed an opposition and distrust rivaling the most confrontational displays in last year's health care town-hall summits.
The project, a security training center sprawled over 2,000 acres, has been delayed for about six months, in part due to the opposition. The feds are still trying to cram it down the throats of Marylanders despite -- gasp -- environmental concerns.
"EPA believes the project may adversely affect the aquatic and terrestrial environment, including wetlands and, potentially, endangered species," wrote Jeffrey D. Lapp, associate director of the agency's Office of Environmental Programs.
But as we learned recently, when Big Government wants to do something (as compared to private business), to hell with environmental impact concerns.
Why during a recession would the locals eschew more federal money and more potential jobs? It couldn't be because they are sick and tired of being pushed around by Big Government, could it?
By the next round of public meetings in February, public affairs specialists flooded Queen Anne's County High School, holding court in classrooms where they answered and acknowledged individual questions and concerns. Oversized poster boards with graphics, maps and photographs detailed the project's environmental, cultural and economic impact.
But at a well-attended public forum held in the school auditorium, it remained clear that the federal officials sent to gain support for the project had lost credibility in the community. Misunderstandings were perceived as broken promises and contradictions were treated as conspiracies.
"I think what it comes down to with a number of citizens is can you trust what the federal government is telling you?" [County Commissioner Eric] Wargotz said. "I can tell you from my perspective, I don't trust what the feds are telling us."
Just as their incredulous Dear Leader Obama, Big Government officials -- even in the bluest of blue states -- are mistrusted and resented for telling residents what's good for them.
