Dear Editor:

These past few weeks we have been hearing about the new stimulus package that is supposed to help all Americans in one way or the other.

Now our politicians are using a new word “earmark.” I’m just kind of curious as to where the word “earmark” originated. It must have some interesting story behind it. What does, or did, it really mean, other than in the current political context?

Oh! Now I know it isn’t just the new stimulus bill, but just pork in disguise. Those pork-barrel spending projects tucked inside the federal budget.

Where is our congressional/legislative leaders from Troup County? It seems that all the money coming to Georgia is going to the great city of Atlanta, such as new environmental infrastructure, clean fuel buses, sidewalks in all of Atlanta counties, just hundreds of pet projects in Atlanta like $95,000 for a Jewish retirement home and the list goes on and on. I have as yet to see where any money is coming to Troup County.

Congress is giving 20 billion to expand the already bloated food stamp program, 600 million to buy more and newer cars for our government bureaucrats, 400 million to promote anti-smoking programs, these are just a tip of the ice burg of the over 8,000 pet programs that is being given. The worst one I have seen that is approved is from the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, where she is saving the swamp land in San Francisco to protect the harvest mouse. My family sets our trap to rid our place of the little destructive buggers.

Let’s fact it, Georgia state and local governments have failed for decades to keep their own spending under control, and throwing even more of this stimulus federal money their way simply rewards their irresponsibility.

All this stimulus money idea is supposed to put a couple million back to work, but this money has to be paid and will not last but a couple years in road repairs and etc. So after it is gone, then what? What happens to the couple million people who had a two-year job?

If the Senator who got the approval of $209,00. to study ways to improve blueberry production would ask me, I will tell him how to “google” on the net and get the information for free.

When Augusta, gets its $355,350. for a “Lover Lane” I want to take my wife and walk it.

Thanks and have a good one.

Bill England

LaGrange