John McCain is obsessed with earmarks. He lures voters in on this issue because he can throw phrases like "pork barrel spending" at it and make people agitated that the government is "wasting" their money.
But we can take this hot button issue of earmarks away from him if we put this in terms that Average Americans can understand.
My two-point strategy below the fold:
Taking the steam out of John McCain's anti-earmark crusade requires a two-prong approach:
1 - Show how eliminating earmarks is NOT a strategy to save our economy by framing the issue in every day economic terms that anyone can understand.
2- Highlight some earmarks that no one would dislike.
Step 1 - Easily Understandable Everyday Economic Terms
Earmarks account for approximately $16 Billion a year. Yes, that's a lot of money. But when you consider that our annual budget is about $3 Trillion, the earmarks are about HALF A PERCENT (.5%). Also, our deficit is around $9 Trillion right now, so earmarks are an even lower percentage of that. What would this look like for you and me and every other Average American?
Say you earn $30,000 a year and you're in debt about $90,000. This is the exact fraction/ratio of the US budget versus debt. One half percent of your salary/budget would be $150 (what would be "earmarks" at the federal level).
In other words, McCain's economic "fix" is about saving what would be $150 for the Average American earning $30,000. Of course we Average Americans could use that $150, but we also know that spending all our time and energy to save a measly $12.50 a month is NOT a viable economic solution for getting our family out of $90,000 worth of debt. We know to get out of that hole we are going to need multiple strategies, which includes big cuts in spending, finding new sources of revenue, educating ourselves so we can get a higher paying job, and other creative measures.
But if John McCain were running your Average American life, he would instead be absolutely OBSESSED with your $10 "earmark" spending on Starbucks or Movies. So obsessed that he wouldn't talk about or focus on any other problems in your financial life.
Step 2 - Highlight Some "Good" Earmarks
There are good earmarks and there are bad earmarks. We've heard all about the bad earmarks because that's what politicians like John McCain promote. He does that so you obsess on earmarks along with him, rather than looking at how his failed anti-regulatory, trickle-down voodoo economic policies have failed you. But when earmarks are transparent (as they are under Barack Obama's "google for government") and for good projects, they are good!
Do you really think the following earmarks are worthy of John McCain's anger and disdain?
Money to Transitional Housing for Victims of Domestic Violence
Money for "A Child is Missing" law enforcement tool
Money for In-Car Surveillance to protect police officers & citizens
Money for Gang Prevention Program
Money for Air Force ALERT System
Money for Teen Drug Abuse Treatment Center
Money for Veteran's Housing & Rehabilitation
[All were requested by Obama, FYI]
See, my fellow Average Americans...John McCain's obsession with earmarks is misplaced. While we certainly need to cut out ridiculous spending, the reality is that earmarks are NOT the problem. They amount to about $10 a month of spending for you and me. But John McCain has made this his made economic focus and his main strategy for getting us out of our current economic crisis. And he wants you pissed off and focusing on it too, because then you will overlook the fact that he has no solution for our REAL problems.