Is It Time For A Government Accounting?

Tom EgelhoffPublished: November 12, 2014

WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 28: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation member, Byron Dorgan (D-ND), holds up a Government Accounting Office report during his opening statement on Capitol Hill February 28, 2006 in Washington, DC. The committe held a hearing about the United Arab Emirates-based company Dubai Ports World's take over of the managment of several terminals in the ports of New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami and New Orleans. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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America is often accused of being the world’s policeman. I personally think that’s a good idea. Who would you rather have doing it? China? North Korea? Iran? Russia?

There is no question the world could use some good policing and if we were the world’s policemen we should be compensated fairly for our efforts. But what about policing our own government?

Blue Ribbon Panels

Whenever something happens in government the Senate and House waste no time is appointing committees or the famous “blue ribbon panels.” The best of the best to get to the bottom of whatever caused one of our agencies to go off the rails or why some government official dropped the ball.

The goal is always “comprehensive reform.” Congress will pass binding resolutions or laws to prevent this dastardly conduct from every happening again. Americans are safe — until next year anyway.

Agency head masters will get a slap on the wrist, and capital hill underlings will be thrown under the bus, and most likely terminated or “reassigned.” Whatever that means.

Who’s Accountable?

Government seems to be the perfect example of the fox guarding the hen house. Those holding others accountable don’t seem to have any accountability for their own actions.

I think we’ve lost sight of who is the employer and who is the employee when it comes to our nations leaders. Supposedly we elect people we would like to speak for us.

Watching the news demonstrates ample evidence that our leaders are acting in their own best interests rather than for those who sent them to govern. While their constituent’s bucket list of needs find their way to the bottom of some congressional round file.

Question their motives and you will receive a nice “form letter” reinforcing how important your views are and relief is most assuredly on the way.

Some Final Thoughts

Each year five hundred thirty-five men and women decide how $3.5 trillion dollars will be spent. That’s a pretty awesome responsibility when you think about it.

The number alone is really hard to get your head around. It works out to about $11,100 per person for our 315 million population.

Even wasting 5 percent of that would be about $150 billion.

I doubt I’m the only one wondering who is policing the police? If government could stop that waste and invest that $150 billion it would double in roughly 7 years.

It’s your money; it’s just not treated the same way you’d treat it.