TITANIC WASTE A FRAUD PERPETUATED

"A Pentagon study in January found that it had paid $285 billion in three years to more than 120 contractors accused of fraud or wrongdoing." (NY Times 02/18/11)

This is but one story and just the tip of the iceberg. We must cut the fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer money before we cut vital services to the American people.

The Republican led house is making a big deal these days about its desire to cut $60 billion from the upcoming budget. These cuts (some legitimate, many not and some, as with the proposed defunding of Planned Parenthood, solely ideologically and politically motivated) would not need to be so draconian were we able to stop the fraud, waste and abuse.

In budget debates around the country we are told over and over again that we have no money for the things that we really need. Its a bitter pill to swallow when the evidence shows that seemingly, we have plenty of money for things that we really don't need, don't work, or worse, don't exist. Government Tries to Keep Secret What Many Consider a Fraud - NYTimes.com

Perhaps Congress and the various State Legislatures around the nation who are crying poverty and swimming in debt should become serious about cutting the unconscionable fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer money before they look to cut the legs out from under hard working every day Americans by cutting or eliminating legitimate and much needed programs, services and protections that governments provide. The people responsible need to be held to account and those guilty of defrauding the taxpayers need to make restitution and go to jail.

Only then, will lawmakers be able to look the people in the eye with a straight face and say we have no money for those things which are really needed. To do otherwise is simply a fraud and perpetuates the abuse of the American taxpayer.