Rand Paul, the senator from Kentucky with a knack for sniffing out where taxpayer dollars vanish, has published his annual report on government spending, and this year’s findings seem more outrageous than ever. His claims of $1.6 trillion wasted are enough to make waves, and that’s not just a figure of speech. Wasting taxpayer money is nothing new to Washington, but the bizarre places it’s ending up make it feel like some twisted episode of “Stranger Things.” Paul shines a light on spending that’s anything but normal—like $5 million dedicated to dosing dogs with cocaine. It seems almost laughable until you realize it’s your hard-earned money funding these absurdities.
Rand Paul didn’t stop at the canines. He also raised eyebrows over $14 million spent on studies involving monkeys playing a video game. Who knew that our primate cousins were getting invites to game nights funded by Uncle Sam? Meanwhile, COVID relief funds meant for schools were used to rent glamorous baseball stadiums and rooms at Caesar’s Palace. It almost feels like the relief was more about upping the ante in Vegas rather than supporting education during a pandemic.
Adding to the well of questionable spending is another study costing taxpayers $1.9 million to determine childhood obesity causes. Certainly, it doesn’t take a genius to know that too many visits to the candy aisle might play a part. Yet, instead of addressing real issues facing Americans, the spending spree just continues. There’s even a million-dollar study teaching ferrets to binge drink. One has to wonder, are these ferrets taking college frat parties too literally?
In another bid to showcase fiscal responsibility, or the lack thereof, Paul’s report highlights the incoherence of federal spending on electric vehicle charging stations. Seven billion dollars were designated for these eco-friendly ambitions, but only 68 stations have popped up so far. It’s reminiscent of setting up a lemonade stand with caviar prices, only to produce just a few cups of lemonade—with a good dose of sourness on the side for taxpayers.
All these expenditures stand out against a backdrop of a $40 trillion federal debt, something as hefty as a sumo wrestler at a buffet. It’s no wonder some policymakers, like Senator Paul, are frustrated with the frivolous spending. The incoming calls for cuts in foreign aid and public broadcasting don’t seem enough against the enormity of a federal budget that has turned taxpayer money into a game of financial roulette. If only the spending spree had as much accountability as it does audacity. It appears nowhere in the budget is a line for common sense or fiscal prudence. In the end, it kind of feels like taxpayers are the ones left holding the bag—likely full of receipts we wish had never been printed in the first place.
