Congress to Citizens: "Let Them Eat Cake"

When was the last time we had a good old-fashioned tarring and feathering here in America? I think it's about time to reintroduce this time-honored tradition on the steps of the Capitol. Here's why:

• "Congress plans to spend $550 million to buy eight jets, a substantial upgrade to the fleet used by federal officials at a time when lawmakers have criticized the use of corporate jets by companies receiving taxpayer funds." This item was placed in a defense spending bill; the Pentagon asked for four planes, but Congress wants more. And apparently these planes are not your run-of-the-mill private jets, either; they are top of the line. Congresspeolple could fly commercial, but they prefer not to. And remember the manufactured outrage when those auto execs came to DC on private jets? Oh, the hypocrisy.
  

• On a related note, Congress apparently needs these planes because "[t]axpayer-funded travel for Congress is booming. Legislators and aides reported spending about $13 million on overseas trips last year, a Journal analysis has shown, a nearly 10-fold jump since 1995." Click that link to read about one egregious Congressional jaunt. They claim these trips help them understand the issues, but I think similar understanding could be gained from watching the Discovery Channel, at much less cost to taxpayers.
  

In the grand scheme of federal spending, the amount of money being wasted here is not much. But as the chasm between an increasingly self-indulgent, corrupt Congress and the people they are supposed to serve gets larger every day. Fortunately for them, though, some in their ranks have enough sense to know when they've crossed the line. Several representatives are speaking out against the new jets. I guess that's the key, knowing how corrupt is too corrupt to get away with. That can be a fine line to walk, though.