Leo

Would it really shock you if I said that our US government could be doing a better job of managing our funds and performing various functions? Femas (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) handling of the Katrina Hurricane disaster is just one example of how it is completely inept when it comes to unexpected events. It also filters down to a local level as well. Funds that were meant to be used to reinforce the levies before Katrina were spent on the casinos. Then the hurricane came and Fema passed out credit cards and money to everyone, victim or not as a gesture of good will, if not stupidity. They also brought in hundreds of mobile homes that were never used. Add to that 40 million dollars worth of pre-made meals that are never distributed and you get the picture. New Orleans is still a disaster zone in many ways, with no thanks to our federal officials. But what did you expect?

This is nothing new. After we invaded Iraq, bags of actual cash were given to Iraqis to the tune of 12 billion (thats with a b) dollars to help jumpstart the economy, or so the advisors in charge at the time, told us. The fact that they didnt keep a single record of who got the money and how it was used was the focus of congressional hearings. Their excuse was that they thought it was the best thing to do at the time. Whether it went to the terrorists or not was immaterial; it went somewhere in Iraq and that was the intent Somehow it would help jump-start the economy and provide a better life for them. How did that work out, you may ask? Dont ask. Our tax dollars at work.

Another unsuccessful agency is the US Postal Service. Its been losing money for decades, in spite of rising postal rates. It seems rather odd that FedEx, UPS, and DHL can make tons of profits but the governments delivery service cannot. Does that tells us something? Even with those two cent increases, mail delivery is still relatively slow and mail is continually being lost or sent astray. Manual labor remains the dominant force in an industry that should be close to being processes via total automation by now.

But there must be some agency that is the most efficient when it comes to managing our money. How about the military which still gives out contracts for ships and tanks that dont work or meet standards? Oops. Only later we discover the flaws that deem them unusable. They still over pay for simple tools like hammers and drills that could be bought at Home Depot for a tenth of the cost. Our congress people take more breaks than our kids, for every holiday and the summer. Why? Because theyre so overworked? Yet they can serve a single term and get a pension and health benefits for life. Can you work for your company for only four years and get a retirement package?

The IRS is a lousy department. Try calling their hotline for a tax question. One recent poll stated that well over three-quarters of their advice was wrong. And that was for a basic question. Our tax code is obviously way to complicated, but is that the governments fault? Well of course it is. They wrote it! Anyway, its another example of a bureaucratic mess.

Its not that the government does everything wrong. The military has advanced weaponry and replaces them as needed. They supply the armed forces with whatever is required and spend money without equal. They also offer veteran benefits like low-cost mortgages and small business loans to companies. They print our money, albeit not always perfectly and maintain the Federal Reserve. If the head of that department could just keep his mouth shut once in a while, the stock market wouldnt go crazy like it does. But Im supposed to be touching on their good virtues at this point. So, what gives?

Dont get me wrong. I was born here, love the free-enterprise system and the liberties Im afforded in America. I just hate the waste and misspending of our taxes. Besides the 100 billion going to Iraq each year, I would prefer to see that much stay here go to our people at home that could use it. Seniors under Medicare, education, equitable tax rates, cancer research, and too many others to mention. We deserve a bit better use of our money and should get a better return. Remember that you cant spell USA without us.

Jeffrey Hauser was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for nearly 25 years. He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising and has a Master's Degree in teaching. He had his own advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design firm, ABC Advertising. He has authored 6 books and a novel, "Pursuit of the Phoenix." His latest book is, "Inside the Yellow Pages" which can be seen at his website, http://www.poweradbook.com Currently, he is the Marketing Director for http://www.thenurseschoice.com a Health Information and Doctor Referral site.