[Mr 5 0]

It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress. - Mark Twain 1897

The United States congress has been called 'corrupt' for well over 100 years but yet America remains the envy of the world in it's freedoms and economic strength built on those very freedoms. In short: America is the envy of the world....even with a 'corrupt' congress.

While no one will deny that there is gigantic waste and some fraud in government expendures, often manipulated by members of congress, there is also some hypocrisy in the charge. Citizens of every state at least partially judge congressmen and senators effectiveness by how much they can take out of the federal budget for their state. From highway funds to school funds to welfare programs and on and on, there is a lot of demand around the country for 'our share' (of the federal budget 'pie') followed by the reminder that: 'we pay taxes, too'. Unfortunately, many states rely on that same 'federal funding' to keep programs afloat every year. Some of them are even worthy.

While I totally concur that there is disgusting amounts of 'pork' in every federal budget (read: taxpayers money spent on crap) I also know that most states want and look forward to their share of the federal budget money for various state 'needs' (and just as many 'wants'). So, before we point fingers at the waste in government and talk about a 'corrupt' congress - which is a legitimate complaint - we should also stop to check and see how much of the wasted money ends up in our own states...and find out why. It might prove interesting.

While we're at it, let's ask the elderly to stop moaning about their Medicare benefits and college kids to stop complaining about the size of the Pell grants and the drudgery of filling out the FASFA forms. The state school systems that depend on federal money to fill out their budgets and those folks who choose to live in Florida should never complain again about a 'corrupt' congress that gives their state tens of millions of taxpayer dollars to help repair and rebuild homes and businesses destroyed by hurricanes. After all, if you live in 'Hurricane Alley' why should taxpayers in Arizona or New Hampshire have to pay for your looses? Same with those 'subsidized' farmers who get paid NOT to grow crops or who get federal money to make up for what they lose when their crops fail. Is there some federal building in your town with a congressman or senators name on it? Guess who paid for it? Right: you did. On and on it goes.

A 'corrupt' U.S. congress? You bet. Just as in 1897 when author and humorist Mark Twain (Sam Clemens) wrote his comment (above) about the U.S. congress. It was funny then because it had the ring of truth, just as it does today. However, U.S. taxpayers have done at least part of the corrupting and we need to remember that when we point fingers and whine about 'government waste'.