Treadmills for Shrimp???

There has been an interesting ad on television lately from the AARP. I'm all for that organization but I didn't really start watching until I heard them mention "treadmills for shrimp!" Apparently that is one of the many, many earmarks that will be on - or already is on - one of the big bills that congress passed for one of the states. I don't think there is ever a bill passed that doesn't have many earmarks dangling off of it. That has to be done to appease the state for passing the bill. I mean the state won't pass the bill unless they get their little goodies in return. This could mean cuts in medicare and social security will be necessary to pay for these earmarks. But the states don't really care as long as they get what they want. It seems like a sort of extortion to me.

In past years, I have read the lists of earmarks and it's really hilarious or sad - it depends on how you look at it. They are pretty funny and seemingly useless, but also sad in that we have to conduct government business that way. What is happening to our country? We are fighting wars in the middle east where they don't really want us. This all started when we went to Iraq and from there it escalated to the present. This country is in sad shape right now and our young men are dying overseas . . . for what? But the government keeps on the same way and we'll keep seeing more of these funny earmarks even though they said they would stop. I didn't believe them then and certainly don't now. Why can't our government work efficiently and get things done in a timely manner. They seem to spend all of their time getting ready for the next elections, forgetting about what should be happening now.

As long as they're continuing with the earmarks, why couldn't they have an earmark for Pole Vaulting for Frogs. That sounds better than the one for shrimps. And I love frogs - shrimps are slimy, slippery little seafood things that should be left under water and never seen by humans.