Johnny Rotten, lead singer of the Sex Pistols, famously asked the audience at the band’s last concert, “Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?” If you’re a US taxpayer, that feeling should haunt your every waking moment because you’re being cheated, big time, by the very people who insist they’re the only people worthy of trusting.
The Detroit Free Press ran a disturbing, though not surprising, story this week about the absolute waste of $6 billion federal dollars in just Michigan’s schools under the guise of “COVID relief.” That money is not needed, but is supposed to be used, according to Joe Biden’s “American Rescue Plan,” to handled COVID-related issues at schools – things like ventilation or HVAC system upgrades.
The problem is, most schools either didn’t need it or want it. Unlike real life, where the money not being used for the purpose it was sent for would mean it would be returned to the federal government, in Democrat circles it means a free-for-all spending spree on whatever you can, with a straight face, claim is related somehow to COVID.
“The River Rouge School District proposed at least $340,000 in athletics, playground and wellness spending out of the roughly $16 million the district received. About $10,000 would go to a nutrition room to make smoothies, according to River Rouge’s plan,” the Free Press reported, uncritically.
How do you justify that? You can’t. But they also don’t have to. The Biden White House doesn’t give a damn, nor does Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Neither will be asked about it, at least not in any serious way.
The same school district “also proposed spending $120,000 to buy a food truck for a mobile culinary arts program for high school students and more than $200,000 on new playground equipment.” Can you feel the COVID going away because of that spending?
Another school district “planned to spend nearly $93,000 on installing new outdoor tennis courts. The superintendent believes the spending is COVID-related because it provides another option for student activities outdoors and addresses concerns parents have raised about students exercising indoors when face masks are required.”
The fact is Biden’s massive spending bill was a payoff to union teachers and governments loyal to the Democrats. No children will learn to read, write or do math because of this spending.
“Schools are also spending hundreds of millions on building expenses that aren’t entirely pandemic-related — Detroit Public Schools Community District’s $700 million spending plan is one of the most stark examples,” the paper reported. “The district received $1.2 billion in federal funding and is relying on the majority, nearly $700 million, for its building projects.”
COVID is the best thing to happen to these school districts, all their spending dreams are coming true. One district wants to spend $500,000 to rip out a pool they admit would only cost $300,000 to repair. Never mind how a pool gets into that kind of shape to begin with, it’s Christmas!
Another district wants to spend $200,000 on playground equipment, which leaves you to wonder how they managed to get things in such disrepair that it all needs to be replaced. The superintendent of that district told the Free Press, “We have $10 million, $20 million worth of needs that aren't all as dire as some of the others. We tried to really look at student data to guide our decision-making process and trying to be responsive to their needs.”
Why didn’t they maintain these things rather than let them get destroyed and ultimately need replacement? Well, because these districts and districts across the country know that the federal government will step in when the fan is about to be hit by the manifestation of their management style. If people know they’ll be bailed out, regardless of how irresponsible they are, how irresponsible do you think they’ll be?
At the end of the story, the Free Press reports, “$6 billion. That’s how much Michigan schools are receiving from the federal government to help students and staff recover from the pandemic. But it isn’t entirely clear how this unprecedented amount of federal cash is being spent and whether it is having an impact.” If you think Michigan is alone, you’re crazy. If you think the Democrats currently running the country will give a damn that we’re being ripped off, you need to be committed. They’re the ones ripping us off. Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?
Derek Hunter is the host of a free daily podcast (subscribe!), host of a daily radio show on WCBM in Maryland, and author of the book, Outrage, INC., which exposes how liberals use fear and hatred to manipulate the masses. Follow him on Twitter at @DerekAHunter.