Obama Claus and His Congressional Elves

Sometimes it’s the questions that aren’t asked that bother me.

There’s been a lot of discussion over the past week about the ongoing fate of the “Cash for Clunkers” program.  Popular sentiment, judging by newscast soundbites from everyone from your congressman to your local car dealer, seems to be that this has been a positive program.  From that, Congress appears to be taking the leap that 2 billion dollars more are merited to keep the program in place longer.

Yesterday, President Obama visited our fair state, bearing funds for the part of Indiana that has been hard-hit by the bottoming out of RV sales, among other economic shifts.  The applause as he announced the funding was enthusiastic and long.

It is a good thing if there is funding that will give a boost to the auto industry and will infuse cash into a geographical area where jobs are desperately needed.

But, I haven’t heard anyone ask, “Where is this money coming from?”

I haven’t heard anyone volunteer the answer, either.

Call me simple.  But I’ve been around the block enough times to know that just saying we’ll spend $XXXXXXXXX doesn’t automatically materialize those funds.

When I go to a giant Kohl’s sale (there is always one going on!), I always have to live with this tension:  If something is on sale for a great price, but I don’t really have the money for it, is it still a good deal?

We need to encourage our lawmakers–and that’s something else that bothers me:  You’d think, from all that is said and done, that it is the President who holds the pursestrings in this country–to ask the Kohl’s sales question…often and loudly and first, not last, after all the promises have been made and the checks have already been written and handed out.

What do we do next?