Government spending

Our country is in a debt crisis; we have more expenses than income. I believe our government wastes too much money. In this economy, we need to pull in the reins.

Just one day's paper (July 30th), gives us a multitude of examples: "White House ‘Science Advisor' dies." Do we need a science advisor? What other "advisors" do we have - geography, math, English . . .?

The "Institute of Medicine" commissioned by the FDA says the device review system is flawed and should be scrapped. We pay for a commission" to tell us something we paid for is flawed?

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administratiom designates the waters off the coast of Rhode Island for renewal energy development, creating a two-year $8 million plan called "The Ocean Special Area Management Plan." Eight million dollars?

The scientist who recently quit because of bogus polar bear research was defended by the director of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Enforcement and Regulation" Hmmm, another agency?

The "House Foreign Affairs Committee" plans to have talks with Saudi Arabia. Another committee. A 15-member "presidential commission" weighs in on nuclear waste disposal, in a 180-page report - what did that cost?

Not to slight our great state, but Gavin Newsom wants to "combine the state's economic development efforts into a single Cabinet level office reporting to the governor." Will they get rid of the current agencies, or are they going to create yet another one?

This all came from the "A" section of The Star. How much money is this country wasting? How many committees, agencies, advisors, commissions, and bureaus, do we have; how many studies have been funded by our tax dollars? This is not the time! Enough!

- Donna Gordon,