Posted by Donny Ferguson on Feb 13, 2009 at LP.org. Reposted to IPR by Paulie.
With California is skidding through a state budget crisis and careening into a head-on collision with bankruptcy, taxpayers are angrier than ever at their free-spending Republican governor, Democrat Assembly and local governments.
“Artist Scott Donahue of Emeryville, Calif., was paid $196,000 by Berkeley’s public arts program to create two large statues, which feature small, artistic medallions that show dogs doing what dogs do best.
“‘Various things,’ Donahue said. ‘Biting each other, chasing each other…. One dog is defecating, two dogs are fornicating.’
“But with the country in a deep recession and California on the verge of bankruptcy, some taxpayers are questioning the money Donahue got for his work. His total budget was $196,000 — 1.5 percent of the total budget for building the pedestrian bridge. And all of it came from taxpayers.
“‘During this time of economic crisis and unemployment in California, the amount of money needed for that statue was excessive,’ says Oona Eddleman of Los Angeles, whose husband Harry has been looking for work since being laid off from his job a few months back. Though Oona is home on maternity leave, she said she will have no choice but go back to work full-time to support her family.”
Yep, Berkeley swiped $196,000 from the pockets of suffering taxpayers and spent it decorating a bicycle bridge with statues of dogs doing stuff you don’t want to see. And that 1.5 percent figure means they spent over $13 million to build the bicycle bridge.
Democrats, and many Republicans, call that “job creation” (because we’ve all heard heartbreaking stories of the millions of out-of-work dog poop sculptors.) Libertarians call it abuse and waste.
Yeah, don’t degrade the RLC by comparing it to schwartzenegger…
“Only a shill for the Republican Liberty Caucus would try to make Schwarzenegger seem libertarian, which is like putting lipstick on a pig.”
Aaron Bitterman, the ExecDirector of the RLC would NEVER call Arnold a libertarian.
Ahnold a free-spender? He is in cahoots to raise taxes 4 different ways in the biggest tax increase in state history? There is no such thing as a tax-raising libertarian, and Ahnold is nothing resembling a libertarian in the first place.
More delusions from Donderoland.
“Hmmn, nice to know that the California “Republican” Governor is a “free spender,” since he just proposed cutting 20,000 state jobs, and is being protested all over the State by the Teachers Unions for the “massive cuts.”
Only a shill for the Republican Liberty Caucus would try to make Schwarzenegger seem libertarian, which is like putting lipstick on a pig.
…and the fact of that matter is that both Democrats and Republicans always end up increasing the size of government (and in some cases the Republicans actually increase it more, such as the fact the George W. Bush increased the size of the federal government more than any President since FDR).
“Eric Dondero // Feb 15, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Hmmn, nice to know that the California “Republican” Governor is a “free spender,” since he just proposed cutting 20,000 state jobs, and is being protested all over the State by the Teachers Unions for the “massive cuts.”
Funny how sometimes the Libertarian Party – of which I’m a dues-paying member of – will jump through hoops to make it seem like Republicans are just as bad as Democrats, including calling a guy who is getting absolutely hammered right now for being “budget slasher” by California Democrats, a free spender.”
Arnold Schwarzennegger is not even in the ballpark of being a libertarian. He signed a bill to ban 50 caliber rifles and another bill to increase the minimum wage. He has also supported increasing the sales tax.
Just because the Democrats want to spend more in this particular case it does not make Schwarzennegger a libertarian. This reminds me an example about Republicans supposedly wanting less government that Harry Browne used to give where he’s point out that Democrats may want to increase a government budget by 39% while Republicans may “only” want to increase it by 37%, so all they are really argueing about is 2%.
Hmmn, nice to know that the California “Republican” Governor is a “free spender,” since he just proposed cutting 20,000 state jobs, and is being protested all over the State by the Teachers Unions for the “massive cuts.”
Funny how sometimes the Libertarian Party – of which I’m a dues-paying member of – will jump through hoops to make it seem like Republicans are just as bad as Democrats, including calling a guy who is getting absolutely hammered right now for being “budget slasher” by California Democrats, a free spender.
http://pauliecannoli.wordpress.com/2009/02/15/taxpayers-get-the-dog-knot-in-cali/
“Artist Scott Donahue of Emeryville, Calif., was paid $196,000 by Berkeley’s public arts program to create two large statues, which feature small, artistic medallions that show dogs doing what dogs do best.
“‘Various things,’ Donahue said. ‘Biting each other, chasing each other…. One dog is defecating, two dogs are fornicating.’
All that spending comes with one hell of a dog knot.
I wonder if taxpayers will finally have had enough of being the government’s bitch, or will they be like these fratboys and keep lapping it up? (warning: disgusting)
I’m really liking the posts at LP.org now. Donny Ferguson is doing a much better job than Andrew Davis!