Pt 1: We scream so loudly about government accountability

For the record, I believe government accountability is important and just about every department at every level in every province (and why not - allow me to add while I’m at it - in every country in the entire free world) could spend more wisely and trim their budgets.

Meanwhile, however, we seem distracted about greater problems.

In my opinion, we are screaming about how much fat is on the T-bone while three gigantic cows are hanging - by the slimmest of threads - directly over our heads.


["Something this size is hanging over our heads!": photo GAH]

Two recent newspaper articles inspired the above, udderly disgusting image.

The first -

No peeking! Expenses off limits (London Free Press, Apr. 26)

Greg Weston writes:

A year ago, the auditor general initiated informal discussions with MPs and Senate staff about the possibility of auditing both houses of Parliament (the Commons or Senate)... (so far) Fraser has heard nothing from either. In an interview, Fraser said taxpayers have every reason to care what happens to the more than $500 million that goes into running Parliament every year.

In my heart, I agreed with the auditor general.


["Will the auditor general save us all?"]

I also wanted to know, after reading the full article, if the $500 million included the salaries of a few hundred MPs and Senators. Because if that is the case, and cuts were made here and a few more there - say to the tune of 25 per cent - the auditor general would reduce government spending by significantly less than $125 million annually.

So, I wrote to Mr. Weston this morning and shortly thereafter he returned the following message:

“That does include salaries but if you do the math, the vast majority of that amount is for other costs.” Cheers/gpw


["A hard rain's a-gonna fall"]

In other words, if the auditor general works like an almighty force, she might be able to shave $75 million from Parliament’s annual budget.

I know that $75 million sounds like a whack of money, but is it worth all the fuss?

Did anyone fuss as loudly about recent figures related to our national debt?

It will be $620 billion by 2014. You could cancel Parliament entirely, save $500 million annually, but not pay off the debt for 1240 years. And a much longer wait time is required for all those that depend on the auditor general to help Canada by saving $75 million per year!

I think we doth protest too much abouteth the wrong things. And that’s udderly foolish of us all.

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Please click here to read Part 2.

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