If the government does it, it will be either substandard, too expensive, or both.

David K. Williams, Jr. — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 15:44:00 +0000

The government built a school for $18.9 million. They used it one year. Now it is closed because it was built so poorly.

The money is gone. The building is useless.

... and some people want the government to take over your health care, too.

JeffCo gambling indictment is tax money absolutely wasted.

David K. Williams, Jr. — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 16:22:00 +0000

David K. Williams, Jr.

Despite cries to the contrary, the government has more money than it can reasonably spend. How else can one explain an 18 month criminal investigation of an alleged bookmaking enterprise in Jefferson County? (See "Denver-area sports-betting operation took high-end clients and bets, indictment says" in today's Denver Post.)

If government has the resources to spend on such an undertaking, it has too much money.

Concerned about funding for public schools? Talk to the officials in charge of this investigation. The money spent on every law enforcement officer employed on this investigation could have been spent on a teacher.

Concerned about funding for public health? Talk to the officials in charge of this investigation. The money spent on every law enforcement officer employed on this investigation could have been spent on a nurse.

Concerned about funding for roads and bridges? Talk to the officials in charge of this investigation. The money spent on every law enforcement officer employed on this investigation could have been spent on repairs.

Concerned about solving crimes of violence? Talk to the officials in charge of this investigation. The money spent on every law enforcement officer employed on this investigation could have been spent on a law enforcement officer investigating a violent crime.

Concerned about high taxes? Talk to the officials in charge of this investigation. The money spent on every law enforcement officer employed on this investigation could have been returned to you.

Until government stops spending money enforcing laws prohibiting consensual adult conduct like gambling, it does not deserve another dime.

If "progressives" are really concerned about public education, they should be going after this wasted law enforcement money.

If "conservatives" are really concerned about limited government, they should be going after this wasted law enforcement money.

BlueCarp

Save the prairie dogs?

David K. Williams, Jr. — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:36:00 +0000

A front page story on today's Denver Post is about efforts to save prairie dogs from the wake of habitat destroying construction of a train to the airport. (See "Wanted: prairie dog homes.")

Someone wants to spend money on relocating prairie dogs? They are just big rats, people. They cover the ground like kudzu. But if people really want to save them, I suggest stopping the light rail project and refunding the taxes collected for the boondoggle.

The federal government isn’t hurting for money. It’s hurting because of bloat.

David K. Williams, Jr. — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 14:09:00 +0000

The wails of anguish from the D.C. political class that the federal leviathan doesn't have any money to provide basic services is bollocks. The federal government has too much money. It only needs more money to feed the bloat.

To wit, the United States government has seventeen separate intelligence agencies:

Central Intelligence Agency
Department of Energy, Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence
Department of Homeland Security, Intelligence and Analysis
Department of State, Intelligence and Research
Department of Treasury, Office of Intelligence and Analysis
Defense Intelligence Agency
Drug Enforcement Administration
Federal Bureau of Investigation
National Geospatial Intelligence Agency
National Reconnaissance Office
National Security Agency
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
U.S. Air Force, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
U.S. Army, Army Military Intelligence
U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Intelligence
U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Corps Intelligence Activity
U.S. Navy, Office of Naval Intelligence

This list is laughable. Even if one allows for separate agencies for international intelligence, domestic intelligence and military intelligence, this group of 17 should be, at most three.

Dispose of the rest.

As he left DC, John Salazar tossed out money like Mardi Gras candy

David K. Williams, Jr. — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:48:00 +0000

Couldn’t we get a few more levels of government involved?

David K. Williams, Jr. — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:40:00 +0000

Today's Denver Post declares in a broad headline

Feds jump aboard rail hub

The article by Mike McPhee states that "the announcement of a $304 million federal loan Friday gave the green light to the redevelopment of Union Station... ."

Further, "the loan (is) guaranteed by the City and County of Denver."

This means that one level of government, the feds, are going to give your money to another level of government, the Regional Transportation District, and that another level of government, the City and County of Denver, has guaranteed with your money the loan of your money to you.

All of this for a project no private investor would touch.

Of course, every transaction between each level of government has a cost. You, of course, pay for that, too.

But I thought the government didn’t have enough money.

David K. Williams, Jr. — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:41:00 +0000

From the Associated Press:

DENVER (AP) -- Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter does not have a staff photographer - but he has billed taxpayers more than $200,000 to hire outside contractors and pay for photographs, videos and TV ads promoting his accomplishments since June 2008, including videos of him receiving a "Father of the Year" award and a press conference naming his friend, Michael Bennet, to a U.S. Senate seat.

Until nonsense like this goes away, statists can save their tears about a lack of government money and the need for more taxes.

The government need for more money is a lie.

Makin’ history

David K. Williams, Jr. — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:00:00 +0000

Just prior to the Senate passing a version of Obamacare, Democratic Senator Tom Hawkin, from Iowa, said "let's make history."

They did.

So did General Custer.

Blind faith in the Cult of the State

David K. Williams, Jr. — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:42:00 +0000

From today's Denver Post:

Colorado has received millions in stimulus funding for projects in the 8th, 24th, 45th and 64th congressional districts, according to a federal website tracking the money.

But the state has only seven districts.

It turns out that the misclassifications were the result of mistakes, faulty interpretations and even guesses born of frustration with the stimulus-reporting software ...

Yet the members of the Cult of the State continue to worship their Government God as the answer to all of society's ills, real and perceived.

Perhaps these cult members should reevaluate their fealty to such a feeble deity. Perhaps they should look elsewhere for solutions.

Maybe the cult's members are right and government's impending takeover of health care will not suffer from similar incompetence.

However, it takes an unwarranted and unearned faith to believe so.

On risky Wall Street investments

David K. Williams, Jr. — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:59:00 +0000

Most people should not attempt walking across a high-wire.

However, if a net is placed under the high-wire, the downside to failure is almost nil.

Therefore, people will be more likely to try something they should not attempt and otherwise would not.

Liberty on the Rocks™ Denver » Government Waste