More Governmental Follies

Exactly how much money does our government waste in the face of all the problems it doesn't fix? I'm guessing quite a bit. I care not who gets elected to office since, regardless of which party is in control, we still have poverty, crime and homelessness. Our new presidents often result in little more than fresh fodder for journalists reporting on the First Wife's wardrobe and hairstyle, the new dog or cat in the White House, and which movie stars get invited to fancy State Department dinners. (Yes, George W. started a war, but Obama hasn't ended it; why not?)

Now the brilliant minds who control our tax dollars are set to launch a "massive study" on the effects of the Gulf oil spill on cleanup worker's health. The study, commissioned after some workers complained of chest pain, headaches and other ailments, will look at everything from rashes to breathing problems to potential increased cancer risk. This will cost the government, which means us, eight million dollars, added to six million from BP, the oil company responsible for the whole mess. Thus, 14 million dollars will be spent trying to see whether workers who helped clean up last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill are getting sick as a result of those jobs. (I'm guessing yes, but hey, I'm no scientist.)

The Wall Street Journal reports that "Lawyers often use epidemiological studies as ammunition in lawsuits contending environmental incidents injured their clients." Instead of fueling more lawsuits, wouldn't it be better to spend that money on ways to avoid another disaster? And if we learn that the oil spill did result in all those folks being sick, does that mean we won't clean up the next one?