In response to WizBang commenter JeremyP's rueful "Why I Vote Republican" mock list (which was tactfully rebutted by JayTea), I would like offer a shorter and more truthful explanation of why Republicans find big government so unappealing:
I vote Republican because government bureaucracies cannot create their own wealth, and throughout history their policies have consistently proven to be among the most wasteful and inefficient usages of private wealth.
To wit -- U.N.'s Ballooning $732 Million Haiti Peacekeeping Budget Goes Mostly to Its Own Personnel
The United Nations has quietly upped this year's peacekeeping budget for earthquake-shattered Haiti to $732.4 million, with two-thirds of that amount going for the salary, perks and upkeep of its own personnel, not residents of the devastated islandThe world organization plans to spend the money on an expanded force of some 12,675 soldiers and police, plus some 479 international staffers, 669 international contract personnel, and 1,300 local workers, just for the 12 months ending June 30, 2010.
Some $495.8 million goes for salaries, benefits, hazard pay, mandatory R&R allowances and upkeep for the peacekeepers and their international staff support. Only about $33.9 million, or 4.6 percent, of that salary total is going to what the U.N. calls "national staff" attached to the peacekeeping effort.
Presumably, the budget also includes at least part of some $10 million that the U.N. has spent on renting two passenger vessels, the Sea Voyager (known to some U.N. staffers as the "Love Boat") and the Ola Esmeralda, for a minimum of 90 days each, as highly subsidized housing for some of its peacekeepers and humanitarian staff. The tab for the two vessels, which offer catered food, linen service and comfortable staterooms and lounges, is about $112,500 per day.
Under a cost-sharing formula, the U.S. pays a 27 percent share of the entire $732.4 million peacekeeping tab for Haiti during this 12 month period, or about $197.7 million.
In other words, 27 cents out of every dollar wasted on The Love Boat and other lavish indulgences by the UN comes from you and I, the American taxpayer. Perhaps JeremyP would explain thusly: "I vote Democrat because I prefer to see my money forcibly confiscated by the government and wasted on lavish benefits for government employees, rather than freely giving it myself to those who are truly in need."
Permalink | Linking Blogs | Sphere: Related Content | Digg this! | FARK It!
Filed under:
Big government
Tags: corruption, government waste, Haiti, UN
Comments (12)
This is way over Jeremy's h... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Michael | April 21, 2010 12:19 AM | Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
This is way over Jeremy's head.
1. Posted by Michael | April 21, 2010 12:19 AM |
Score: 8 (8 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2010 00:19
2. Posted by Marc | April 21, 2010 1:44 AM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
And over lees', bryanD's, b henry's, tina s' and a cast of a dozen or so more.
2. Posted by Marc | April 21, 2010 1:44 AM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2010 01:44
3. Posted by Jay Tea | April 21, 2010 4:47 AM | Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
I believe the better phrasing would be "above their pay grade." That term has an exceptionally appropriate association in this context...
J.
3. Posted by Jay Tea | April 21, 2010 4:47 AM |
Score: 7 (9 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2010 04:47
4. Posted by Jim Addison | April 21, 2010 5:02 AM | Score: 9 (11 votes cast)
I dunno, talking about their "pay grade" reminds me of the time I was chatting with the department head and a fellow manager burst into his office, upset about the tiny pay raise he had received upon evaluation. "When are you going to pay me what I'm worth?" he pleaded.
The boss didn't blink an eye, but looked up at him and replied, "Son, I would love to pay you what you're worth, but there's the minimum wage law to consider."
4. Posted by Jim Addison | April 21, 2010 5:02 AM |
Score: 9 (11 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2010 05:02
5. Posted by Jay Tea | April 21, 2010 6:46 AM | Score: 2 (6 votes cast)
Jim, I was referring to Obama's anwer to his position on abortion to Rick Warren... too obscure?
J.
5. Posted by Jay Tea | April 21, 2010 6:46 AM |
Score: 2 (6 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2010 06:46
6. Posted by jim m | April 21, 2010 6:49 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
I dunno. It still boils down to "I vote demoocrat because I believe the government can spend my money better than I can". I think that was in the original list.
6. Posted by jim m | April 21, 2010 6:49 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2010 06:49
7. Posted by retired military | April 21, 2010 7:00 AM | Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Jay Tea
"I believe the better phrasing would be "above their pay grade." "
That of course would imply they have jobs.
7. Posted by retired military | April 21, 2010 7:00 AM |
Score: 6 (6 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2010 07:00
8. Posted by Hank | April 21, 2010 10:50 AM | Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
With the UN involved, I'm surprised that any money whatsoever gets to any resident of Haiti.
8. Posted by Hank | April 21, 2010 10:50 AM |
Score: 4 (4 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2010 10:50
9. Posted by Jay Guevara | April 21, 2010 1:49 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
With the UN involved, I'm surprised that any money whatsoever gets to any resident of Haiti.
Money to Haitians? The Haitians will be lucky if they don't get shaken down.
9. Posted by Jay Guevara | April 21, 2010 1:49 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2010 13:49
10. Posted by 914 | April 21, 2010 11:43 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
"Money to Haitians? The Haitians will be lucky if they don't get shaken down."
Or raped..
10. Posted by 914 | April 21, 2010 11:43 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 21, 2010 23:43
11. Posted by retired military | April 22, 2010 6:52 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Michael
You may want to break down and explain the reason for your post for jeremy. Make sure it is itty bitty statements so he understands.
11. Posted by retired military | April 22, 2010 6:52 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on April 22, 2010 06:52
12. Posted by Jim x | April 22, 2010 11:18 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Here's the problem with singling out the UN as an example of wasteful government spending:
The UN is not a government.
Just saying.
12. Posted by Jim x | April 22, 2010 11:18 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on April 22, 2010 11:18